Gig Harbor’s new ice cream spot is finally ready to scoop. Couple of Scoops, opening in the Olympic Village shopping center, is gearing up to serve classic scoops alongside dairy-free and gluten-free options, plus a candy counter with many sugar-free choices. The family-run shop centers its business model on creating meaningful jobs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and after a delay tied to construction and shipping snags, the team has circled an official grand opening date.
According to The News Tribune, Couple of Scoops is taking over the former GameStop space at 5500 Olympic Drive NW, Suite H-103 in Olympic Village. The outlet reports the shop originally targeted an early May opening but pushed its debut to early June because of “construction hiccups” and shipping delays, and that the owners have now set a grand opening for next Saturday, June 6. The News Tribune also noted that the team hosted a pop-up at Precious Collective Boutique as a warm-up act for the permanent shop.
A job-focused scoop
Couple of Scoops describes itself as “more than just ice cream,” stating that the business exists to “create meaningful employment opportunities” for adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The site links to online job applications, outlines training and job-coaching support, and invites prospective team members and shift leads to apply through the digital forms.
Owner Jim Ciaciuch, who also opened the Couple of Socks novelty shop at Tacoma Mall, told The News Tribune that at least half of the candy varieties will be sugar-free. “This is a store for everybody,” he told the paper.
Local roots and support
The idea grew from Ciaciuch’s experience employing his daughter Molly and others at Couple of Socks, where he worked with local partners to support workers with disabilities. Gig Harbor Now reported in January that Couple of Scoops plans to pay above minimum wage and collaborate with nonprofits such as Trillium Employment Services to help match and coach employees.
What to know
The business lists its address as 5500 Olympic Drive NW, Suite H-103, with planned hours of noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the company website. The site also provides contact information and the online jobs form for anyone who wants to apply or double-check opening-day details…