AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Mike Thorpe, owner of Totally 80s Ice Ice Cream Shoppe, said he loves seeing children picking up an Etch A Sketch for the first time. Often, they attempt to use it as a touch-screen device.
He also is impressed with some of the designs some people leave on it, incredible art that makes it obvious they have played with one before. At his shop, playing is encouraged, as is a nostalgic trip back in time.
Totally 80s Ice Ice Cream Shoppe celebrated the opening of its new location at 1600 S. Raccoon Road on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting, along with members of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the Austintown Township trustees.
The shop also has a location at 657 E. State St., Salem.
Although she wasn’t born yet, Thorpe’s daughter, Taylor Thorpe, who is managing the new location in Austintown, said she feels like the 80s were her childhood. Her parents’ stories from their teenage years centered around the era.
“All of their favorite TV shows, movies and all this memorabilia, I would remember all of them, even though I wasn’t alive,” Taylor said, adding it is a real conversation starter when people come in with their families. She even collected the 2000s version of Garbage Pail Kids, just like her mother had done in the 80s.
Mike Thorpe said the shop offers an opportunity for customers to not only get some ice cream or purchase some of the other candy treats they remember from the 80s, but also to immerse themselves for a while. Besides the totally rad 80s décor, gamers can try their hands at some of the video arcade games, board games and other toys from the era.
Taylor said the shop distracts children from their phones and offers them an opportunity to try something new.
“At the end of the day, we do want somewhere to go that takes our mind off school, and they aren’t worrying about what’s going on outside of this building,” Taylor said.
Unlike the quarter it used to take to play Super Pac-Man, Galaga and other arcade games, Mike lets customers play the games for free. He also loans board games and other nostalgic toys like Simon; Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots; and Waterfuls to use inside the store.
And when customers leave, the Terminator can be heard saying, “I’ll be back.”
Mike said he likes to see families have an affordable evening out, having ice cream and a chance to spend time in a fun atmosphere.
He said the idea came to him and his wife, Melissa, while sitting on their sofa one day to make it more than just another ice cream shop.
“I like all ice cream, but the way our winters are and our weather, it’s truly nice to make an evening for maybe two adults and a kid to get some good ice cream and play games for an hour,” he said, adding he tries to keep the ice cream reasonable, too, with bigger portions.
He said he would rather see people have some money left over to tip the employees, giving them a better wage.
Totally 80s Ice Ice Cream Shoppe also has a party van to sell ice cream and for special events.
Pictured at top: Taylor Thorpe, manager of Totally 80s Ice Ice Cream Shoppe in Austintown, and Mike Thorpe, owner.
