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Margot’s Ice Cream Parlor in San Juan Bautista celebrated National Ice Cream Day on July 20 by staying open 24 hours, starting at midnight.
In the morning, owner Margot Tankersley even offered a special “Ice Cream for Breakfast” menu and offered discounts on any cone or cup of ice cream.
“We have 32 flavors of ice cream and two flavors of soft serve,” she said. “My favorite ice cream, fruit-wise, would be cherry, and chocolate-wise, it would be cookies and cream or chocolate peanut butter.”
Serving more than 150 customers at her event, Tankersley said the most popular flavor was vanilla bean.
Still, in the morning, everybody was getting the Kahlua truffle and coffee flavor with Kahlua chocolate, along with the Kahlua truffles, she said.
“It’s a celebration of something fun,” she said. “Ice cream is happiness, and we’re just spreading more sweetness for people to celebrate.”
Tankersley said there was a good line outside her shop right after midnight.
“My daughter, Laurie Tankersley, was helping,” she said, “We were running a few minutes behind and, suddenly, oh my gosh, it’s 12 o’clock. I came out of the back, and Chris, one of our locals, was knocking on the door.”
Tankersley said people were excited to see the parlor was open, which some customers had not expected.
Margot’s employee Bella Veglia said it had been pretty busy during the day. She said she had thought about coming in at midnight but didn’t because she had to be at work early in the morning.
“I had some ice cream for breakfast,” she said, “and it was delicious. My favorite ice cream is Cookie Monster, which is bright blue and has cookies, cream and cookie dough. It is very popular.”
Customer Patricia Monton said she had no idea until she came in the door that it was National Ice Cream Day. Her choice of flavors, she said, was an easy one to make.
“My favorite is anything with nuts,” she said, “so pistachio is the one. I like it just because it gives a little bit of crunch in the ice cream that’s already soft, and it’s not too sweet.”
Another customer, Katie Hoefing, said she and her fiancé, Alex Huaracha, had come to town to do some antique shopping, when she saw Margot’s was open.
“I was craving some ice cream,” she said, “and I can’t pass up Margot’s. We both got Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip because it’s the best one there.”
Jackie Cunningham and her husband, Billy, said they are big ice cream fans, mentioning shops as far away as Cape Cod and San Diego as being among their favorites. But she said she enjoyed being at Margot’s and ordered the Kaua’i Pie and Chocolate Peanut Butter flavors.
“I like the mix of the salty, macadamia nuts and coconut with the sweet chocolate,” she said.
Billy ordered the Almond Crunch and Cookie Monster, but said his favorite flavors are still the basics.
“I really like just plain chocolate and vanilla,” he said. “They are just simple, and they are always good.”
Margot’s marked its 29th anniversary on June 24 and has received The Best of San Benito Award for the last two years.
“We have been here for 29 years,” Tankersley said, “spreading goodness and happiness, one scoop at a time.”
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