Friday, Aug. 06, 2010

It's a sweet, new look for Baskin-Robbins

Pacheco Boulevard shop owners keep scooping as they spruce up interior, get new signs, awning

Walt and Kathy Ballard have owned the local Baskin-Robbins for 15 years.

The last time the business had what Walt Ballard calls a "face-lift" was when it opened. This summer the ice cream chain's corporate office told all franchise owners it's time for a makeover.

The company is trying to upgrade its image, so all stores are required to remodel.

"They're just bringing it back up, making it pretty again," Walt Ballard said.

In Los Banos, new wallpaper, tables, countertops and upgrades to centers where sundaes are made have been completed. Chairs, eco-friendly lighting, a new awning and the company's new signs still have to be placed.

Ballard said business is not scheduled to be interrupted between now and September, when the work is scheduled to be completed.

"We did the remodel here during the main thing, and we just had to apologize to the customers, 'Sorry, we're right in the middle of a remodel,' " Walt Ballard said.

The Ballards used another Baskin-Robbins franchisee, Charlie Mitchell, to do the work. Mitchell owns a Baskin-Robbins in Davis. He said he has done about 40 remodels from Davis to Bakersfield.

"I have a hard time saying no," Mitchell said. "There has to be a remodel for every store. Whenever a corporation tells you to remodel and you get a contractor, it's always more expensive. They have to consult and find out what's required. I don't have to do that, I already know."

Mitchell said that's what led him to do his own remodel. He started doing the renovations for other franchise owners at a cheaper rate than what outside contractors may charge after a friend of his asked Mitchell to remodel his shop.

Like many other industries in the country, the recession has impacted the ice cream business.

Walt Ballard said business took a hit the last two years as the economy slumped, but so far in 2010 the shop has managed to stay level financially

The couple planned to bring a Togo's to town and have it and Baskin-Robbins next to each other near downtown. That's not going to happen.

"We've had to cancel those plans," Walt Ballard said. "Because of the economy and stuff, we just can't get it done. Togo's is on hold and we're keeping the Baskins here (on Pacheco Boulevard)."

Overall, the couple takes pleasure in owning the business

Kathy Ballard loves making specialty cakes for people. She's made children's birthday cakes with igloos, ski slopes and drag racing lanes.

"I just get such a jazz out of that," she said. "When you enjoy it, it's not a job."

Her husband likes the people he's around daily.

"The best thing about this job is customers and employees, they're never the same. I'm not on an assembly line, doing the same thing," Walt Ballard said.

This year Baskin-Robbins made national news by retiring five of its 31 flavors -- caramel praline cheesecake, campfire s'mores, apple pie a la mode, superfudge truffle and French vanilla. Walt Ballard said people who enjoy those flavors should not worry.

"There's about 1,200 flavors, and they just put them back into rotation. You won't see them the rest of this year, but you'll probably see them next year," Walt Ballard said. "French vanilla we want back. We've been screamin' for it. We've had chocolate fudge and French Vanilla since I opened."

The couple is optimistic. They said they have a long-term goal of buying the location the shop is in. In the immediate future, they'll be at the shop continuing to do what they love.

Enterprise reporter Corey Pride can be reached by phone at 388-6563 or cpride@

losbanosenterprise.com