Yahoo News Inside the historic shop where people have been buying ice cream for 128 years
If you're heading off on a staycation to Swansea in Wales this summer, then you'll want to know about one particular shop a short drive away that's en route to the stunning Gower Peninsula.
Shepherds, just off the bustling South Gower Road, has been serving sweet treats that have attracted visitors from far and wide for generations.
The shop has been a part of Swansea's history for 128 years, first opened in 1896 by the Shepherds family, and has only changed ownership twice since then. As well as its cafe, it prides itself on stocking locally produced goods, essential convenience items, household items, and unique gifts.
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However, the main attraction is its famous ice cream counter, offering a delicious choice of flavours.
Back in the 1970s, the ice cream was made on-site, but after regulations changed, suppliers stepped in. Now, Marshfield Farm ice cream is served, but the counter remains as popular as ever.
Long queues of schoolchildren eager for a couple of scoops of bubble gum flavour are a common sight. Vanilla, salted caramel, and honeycomb are the top sellers during the week, but the weekend sees a long-standing tradition upheld, reports Wales Online.
Older customers travel from as far as Cardiff for a serving of the famous rum and raisin flavour.
The current owners, Carla Humphreys and her partner Luke Borrelli, took the reins in 2019 to save the business when they saw it was up for sale. Despite being out of their depth initially - with Ms Humphreys working as a solicitor and Mr Borrelli employed at Castell Howell - they quickly adapted to their new roles.
They wholeheartedly adopted the values that have made the shop so successful over the years. In keeping with tradition, they tailored their business model to meet the needs of the community, going above and beyond to stock requested items from those living in the rural area.
They prioritise stocking high-quality goods, such as Gower Coffee and hard-to-find vegan products, and even established a cafe offering light lunches and coffees.
Inside the shop, photos of its original appearance are displayed behind the counter, and efforts have been made to retain the shop's original feel, despite significant renovations to the interior when they first took over.
Carla reminisced about the shop's legacy saying: "The ice cream has so much history, some of our oldest customers remember coming here for it when they were young. You've got the bubble gum flavour which all the kids want, and you've got the more traditional flavours like rum and raisin too. Customers have also said that they come down here for things they could not get from other places. We look to stock good quality products, vegan and organic foods, and the things that people want, just to run as a good old fashioned convenience store. We try to keep as much local and Welsh made stuff in as we can, without it becoming silly."
She added: "Everything that people say, we take on board and we do. It's a two way street between us and the customers, we want to have what they want here for them. People will even text me saying: 'I want this, I want that' and we'll look to get it for them."
Long-serving employee, Caroline Rutter, spoke about her time at the shop: "I first started just as a Sunday shift, and it became more and more, and I have done four days a week for around 20 years now.
"The best thing about working here is definitely the people, we have had the same customers coming here every day. They become not just customers, but like family and friends. I have seen people grow up, coming here as kids and now in their twenties. Everyone knows each other and will pass on messages to each other through us. The loveliness of everybody makes my day, it's good to have an old fashioned chin wag."
Shepherds can be spotted at South Gower Road, Parkmill, Swansea, postcode SA3 2EH, opening Monday to Saturday between 8am and 5.30pm, and Sundays from 8.30am until 5.30pm.
