Family Helps Keep Memory Of Selma's Ice Cream Parlour Alive In Afton

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – All week long WCCO This Morning's Ali Lucia is visiting local ice cream shops in honor of Ice Cream Week.

On Wednesday, Selma's Ice Cream Parlour, a staple along the St. Croix in Afton, offered up a taste of their frozen treat.

According to the photo on the wall of the shop, the story of how it started is this:

"In 1910, Ed Holberg started an ice cream and confectionary store. Cones were 5 cents. In 1913, he married Selma Swanson. They operated their business together and set up housekeeping in the rear of the store. Mr. Holberg passed away in 1936 and Selma continued to run the business alone. Selma passed away in 1966 at the age of 83."

The work is never over for Selma's owner, and mother of six, Becky Nickerson, but the adventure has just begun

"We've learned a lot about community and working together. We've met so many families locally and just around the state that come in and share their memories of Selma's with us," Becky Nickerson said.

Nickerson and her husband purchased the bank owned shop four years ago.

Everyone has their role. While her husband tends to the lawn, her oldest son, Chase, washes the sidewalk.

Nickerson said all of the kid's first job assignment before they can graduate to helping customers is waffle making. Her two youngest sons, Cade and Fletcher, have been assigned that task.

"I usually make waffle cones and clean up at night and put tables on chairs," 12 year-old Fletcher Nickerson said.

Cade demonstrated waffle making on two machines.

"Whenever customers walk in, they always notice the smell. They say it smells amazing in here because of the waffle cones," 13 year-old Cade Nickerson said.

After a while cone making turns over to greeting customers.

"Seeing them form relationships with customers and have regulars come in. Pretty soon they know more people walking in the door than I do," Nickerson said.

Tate, who turns 15 in a month, is the candy connoisseur.  He falls into the category as he is familiar with many of the regulars.

"I like forming relationships with customers. I'm starting to know quite a few people," Tate said.

And 10 year-old Mya didn't hold anything back about the greatness of working in this sweet shop.

"I like that we get to work with other people, and that you get to have ice cream when you're working," Mya said.

She also didn't hold back about what it's like to work with her five older brothers.

"Well there's nothing I really like about working with my brothers," Mya laughed.