Sioux Falls Church Takes Over Popular Ice Cream Shop On Cliff Avenue

A well-known Sioux Falls church is getting into the ice cream business.

Celebrate Church on Sycamore Avenue is taking over ownership of the B&G Milkyway on Cliff Avenue and 69th Street.

And before you start wondering, no, this doesn't mean church members will be lining up for free Avalanches every Sunday after each service. Although I have to admit, that would probably be a pretty popular church perk.

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Instead, Celebrate Church has a much bigger plan for the longtime Sioux Falls ice cream shop.

According to Dakota News Now, the B&G will continue operating much like it always has. The current employees are expected to stay, and customers can still expect the same soft-serve ice cream, hot fast-food favorites, and other tasty treats they've been enjoying at the Cliff Avenue location.

The change in ownership comes from the Aberson family, the previous owners of the Cliff Avenue B&G Milkyway.

Josh Aberson, the former co-owner, told Dakota News Now that the family spent time praying about what they should do with the business and ultimately felt called to give it to Celebrate Church.

“We believed God was telling us to give the store to Him wholly and completely and place it at the center of His church,” Aberson told Dakota News Now.

That's a pretty big decision when you're talking about a business that has become a popular stop for Sioux Falls families looking for a little something sweet during the warm spring and summer months.

Celebrate Church isn't planning to turn B&G into another revenue stream for the church.

Instead, the plan is to use profits from the business to help support ministry and community needs throughout Sioux Falls.

David Hyde, general manager of the B&G on Cliff, told Dakota News Now that money left after operating expenses can be used to give back to the community and support various projects throughout the year.

And that could mean the ice cream window at Cliff and 69th is doing more than satisfying a summer sweet tooth. The money generated there could eventually help support people and projects right here in the Sioux Falls area.

The church also plans to use the ice cream shop as a learning experience for the young people they will employ.

Celebrate sees the restaurant as an opportunity to invest in young people. The Cliff Avenue B&G currently employs around 50 part-time workers, and Celebrate plans to use the business as a place where young employees can develop leadership and business skills.

Hyde says the goal is to take young people and “pour into them from a Christ-centered basis.”

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So, while the ownership may be changing, don't expect the B&G experience on Cliff Avenue to suddenly look completely different. You'll still be able to pull into the parking lot and order up all your favorite tasty treats and delicious eats.

The twist now is that some of the proceeds from those ice cream runs will be going back to support the Sioux Falls community.