Scoops & Loops ice cream shop opened Saturday, March 22 in downtown Brookings and offers residents and visitors new snacking opportunities.

The business is located downtown at 404 Main Ave., with close neighbors Party Depot and Main Street Pub.

Ava Boeve is the owner of Scoops & Loops. She has lived in Brookings her whole life and is an SDSU alumni who graduated this past December. Boeve has long dreamed of opening a business but wasn’t sure what Brookings was missing. Then an idea sprung up  to bring SDSU ice cream to downtown Brookings.

“Scoops and Loops was an idea created by me and a friend when we were bored during a work shift,” Boeve said.

SDSU ice cream has long been a hit statewide, with over 30 flavors to choose from. Scoops & Loops will offer over 12 flavors, not just originals like chocolate and vanilla, but fan favorites such as cookies & cream, strawberry revel and cookie dough as well.

But ice cream isn’t the only feature that will draw in customers. Milkshakes, various toppings, sundaes and Boeve’s favorite, ice cream nachos, will be available.

“I am definitely most excited about ice cream nachos, which are ice cream cone chips you can dip in your favorite flavor of ice cream, with all sorts of different toppings,” Boeve said. “It is something Brookings has never had before.”

Scoops & Loops isn’t just for dessert either, it’s also a snack bar. Items such as soft pretzels, chips and nacho cheese, trail mix and granola bars are also available. In the future, Boeve wants to add baked goods and more snacks, plus a catering service for a variety of events.

Boeve knew Brookings was the place to start her business. She says she “loves Brookings and loves the community support for one another.”

Scoops & Loops also strives to offer a unique, relaxing experience to its customers.

Jenna Thorstenson, a graduate student, was looking forward to trying Scoops & Loops because of the combination of late hours, sweet treats and the location.

Scoops & Loops is open Friday and Saturday until 2:30 a.m.

“[Scoops & Loops] could be a great place to get together and study at any time of the day, a great alternative to Insomnia Cookies,” Thorstenson said.

Being downtown offers advantages, such as high traffic times with pedestrians that may bring in more business.

“The addition of Scoops and Loops to the Downtown Brookings business scene will be great, as it will increase traffic for the neighborhood,” said Kirsten Gjesdal, director of Downtown Brookings. “The business offers a new concept that complements other businesses really well.”

In addition to increasing customer visits to downtown, Scoops & Loops is the only dessert and snack bar downtown, which increases the diversity and value of downtown.

With this new shop, Gjesdal thinks “it will bring in new people, especially visitors, and keep others in the neighborhood longer for dessert and late-night snacks.”

But, with advantages come disadvantages. Gjesdal said some challenges that businesses downtown struggle with can be old building maintenance, parking and the late-night crowds.

In the near future, Boeve said she is looking to hire young adults and high school students who can work late and are looking for a first job.