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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Maddogs Grill in Clanton recently opened a new ice cream shop that enhances their customer experience and allows for more possibilities for the restaurant. Owners Bo and Cynthia Maddox moved the ice cream shop from the back of Maddogs to next door creating their own standalone ice cream shop in the shopping center at 200 Town Mart, Clanton.

“People eat ice cream all year round,” Cynthia Maddox said. “They love ice cream, love everything about it, so we wanted to have everything to offer to our customers and have a little bit of everything here.”

Maddogs purchased the building next door last year after a cellular provider moved out. The move expanded the operation of the ice cream shop, and allowed for the former space to be used for a private party and karaoke area with a small stage. The move not only expanded the ice cream shop’s operations, but added a brand-new feature that was not at the restaurant before. The new gathering space inside Maddogs restaurant can be used for birthday parties, business meetings and more. It can also be closed off from the other parts of the restaurant for private parties.

Maddogs Grill has been at its current location for three and a half years, but the restaurant has been in operation for over eight years. The Maddox’s are always looking to expand and improve upon things, and the next logical step for them was the new ice cream shop.

“We needed more room, and now we have room for bingo and picked up karaoke and live music,” Maddox said. “Moving it gives us more space to work with, and it gives access to the public with its own door so people can come right into the ice cream shop.”

The construction of the new ice cream shop included putting in another bathroom, cutting through the wall to connect the shop with the restaurant and power, water and electric lines put through the walls of the shop. The idea for the shop has always been present, but the project was fully put in motion in September 2024. Everything took around three months to complete.

“When Metro moved out we started thinking about it, this place became available and we started working on it,” Maddox said. “It was a little lengthy because the plumbing went one way, so we had to connect into that and build it around into the walls.”

The full-service ice cream shop opened its doors in early December. The shop itself has tables available for seating for customers to enjoy their ice cream in the shop rather than taking it with them. Scoops, shakes, splits, sundaes, cones and floats are all options with 40 different flavors of Hershey’s Ice Cream available. Along with the ice cream, Maddogs has their own baked goods that are sold at the shop to add to the endless list of sweet treats. Churros, funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, fudge, cobblers, cheesecake and pastries are all part of the sweet escape that is Maddogs’ new ice cream shop. Coffee, smoothies and other beverages are served at the shop as well.

The most popular feature is the new rolled ice cream that Maddogs added with their new shop. Rolled ice cream has become a popular style to serve ice cream, and the shop brings a different way to enjoy the sweet treat to Chilton County.

“The biggest thing here is definitely the rolled ice cream, and people can pick their toppings for it,” Maddox said.

The hot summer months are the obvious busiest times for Maddogs’ ice cream shop, but they have seen a steady trend of traffic all year round, staying busy because they are connected to the restaurant.