Editor’s Note: Tatum Love completed this story in January, but Nighthawk News did not have photos to run with it until recently. We wanted to post her story for everyone to enjoy her work while our classmate continues to recover from injuries suffered in January’s car accident.

By Tatum Love, Staff Writer

Surfin’ Spoon has been a local favorite and visitor hotspot ever since it first opened in May of 2012 at milepost 10.5 on the beach road. Building a successful business and reputation isn’t easy, but replicating that success in a new location can be especially difficult. This past September, owners Jesse and Whitney Hines announced that they would be moving the shop a little over a mile and a half north into the old T-Shirt Whirl building.

The Hineses describe the move as “bittersweet.” They loved the vibe and what they were able to achieve at the original spot, but when asked what they saw as the best part of the relocation, they could not be more clear.

“No more flooding!”

Along with the higher ground comes many other improvements.

“A bigger and safer parking lot, having our kitchen where the ice cream sandwiches are made under the same roof, and sharing our vision on how to incorporate the cozy, quaintness of the hobbit door building into the new place – we promise it’s going to be sweet,” the owners said in an email to Nighthawk News.

Senior Ella Lamm has worked at Surfin’ Spoon for three years now, and she believes the shop is unlike any other.

“I think Surfin’ Spoon is different from other froyo shops because when you walk into the shop you automatically feel at home,” Lamm said. “Whitney always keeps the place so adorable and up to date with the modern trends.”

Jesse and Whitney are constantly finding ways to improve the shop’s environment, whether it’s coming out with new merchandise designs or serving froyo flavors that are totally “out of the box” in order to leave their customers happy and wanting to come back.

“We genuinely love people! We enjoy sharing our lives with our customers, and we are so honored that we get to be a part of their lives as well,” Jesse and Whitney explained. “Building relationships and friendships has always been a priority along with quality treats, and our goal is for everyone to walk out feeling full of joy, whether they eat a treat or just buy a T-shirt.” 

Leaving the old building was difficult for the Hines family but, in order for their business to grow, it was a necessity.

“It is definitely emotional knowing we are leaving the place where the Surfin’ Spoon was born, where both of our kids were raised, where we met so many amazing people from near and far,” Jesse and Whitney said. “But, we know that new amazing memories are going to be made just down the road.  We are going to keep meeting folks, our kids will keep growing, and hopefully the Spoon will, too, despite leaving where it all started.”

Surfin’ Spoon’s relaunch in the new location is scheduled for around Easter. Until then, Jesse and Whitney will continue to work their hardest on getting the new place ready to go and striving to satisfy their ever-growing customer base. 

Junior Tatum Love can be reached at 22loveta53@daretolearn.org.