When Norfolk’s summer heats up, there’s really only one reasonable thing to do: head straight for your nearest ice cream parlor for a little relief. If you’re downtown, that means making a beeline to BLYSS Ice Cream and Desserts.
Situated at the foot of Granby Street near Hilton Norfolk The Main, BLYSS draws its visual inspiration from the surrounding downtown core, with a splash of cheeky modern art, a touch of antique lighting and several portraits of famous locals on the walls (hello, Pharell and Allen Iverson!) Your average ice cream shop, it is not.
Looking at the mid-summer menu, flavors such as banana pudding, blueberry cheesecake, pecan praline, cookies-n-cream and vegan acai blueberry dominate. It’s all part of the plan of keeping the menu – which includes cones, sundaes, cups and milkshakes – seasonal, says owner and operator Bria Suggs.
“I bake all the goodies that go inside our sundaes and milkshakes – the cheesecake, blondies, brownies and a few other cookies,” Suggs says.
Suggs is not only a veteran of the ice cream business, but of the armed forces, as well. An eight-year Air Force vet who grew up in Coastal Virginia and was stationed at Langley Air Force Base, she previously worked at Dairy Queen and went on to start her own frozen treat truck called Shake It Up Shakes.
When she officially opened BLYSS’s doors on June 8, she wasn’t sure how people would react to the change in tone of the former Norfolk Smoothie location at 112 Granby St. But business has been brisk, Suggs says.
“The first month has gone so well and I’m so happy to be in this location,” she says. “The City of Norfolk is so supportive of my business and small business in general. It’s been an awesome experience.”
As for what’s selling the most, it may not surprise ice cream lovers to hear what Suggs says next.
“The brownie sundae is really popular,” she says. “It has vanilla ice cream or chocolate, along with fresh brownies, chocolate chips, hot fudge and another giant scoop on top with whipped cream and a cherry.”
For vegans and those who are lactose intolerant, Suggs offers at least one vegan option each week, including milkshakes.
And don’t think BLYSS is just a place to hit during the Dog Days of Summer.
“We’re expanding the menu and it switches every season. Toward the fall we switch to more savory, warm. Our pumpkin cheesecake is a big hit,” Suggs says.
She also says BLYSS will offer hot chocolate, hot tea and a specialty hot chocolate float when temperatures cool down in Norfolk.
As a solo entrepreneur, Suggs is behind the counter most of the time BLYSS is open, but has begun expanding her team.
“It’s me and one other person right now. I want to get to know all the customers personally. I want to build relationships and just meet everyone to get their opinion and feedback. As we grow we will add people to the team.”
Swing by BLYSS between 5 and 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday to enjoy an unbeatable deal: during milkshake happy hour, you can score a 12-ounce milkshake for just $5.
