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Former Hannawa Falls Country Market will become home to Billy’s Ice Cream in May

Posted 1/23/25

HANNAWA FALLS – The former Country Market will be transformed into an ice cream shop this spring.

County and Pierrepont planners have approved a site plan for Billy’s Ice Cream, …

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Former Hannawa Falls Country Market will become home to Billy’s Ice Cream in May

Posted

HANNAWA FALLS – The former Country Market will be transformed into an ice cream shop this spring.

County and Pierrepont planners have approved a site plan for Billy’s Ice Cream, which owner Bill LaPierre hopes to open in May.

The shop will offer soft serve custard, a variety of hard ice creams and includes plans for some special concoctions.

LaPierre said he’d had the idea to open an ice cream shop for sometime, and as a Colton native and resident, he’d originally planned to open a location there.

However, when he saw the former Country Market was available, it got the wheels turning.

“I thought, hey Hannawa Falls doesn’t have an ice cream shop,” he said. 

LaPierre said he also had fond memories of the store which has fallen into disrepair over the years.

“I remember going there as a kid when it was the Country Store. In recent years they kind of let the place go. So that’s kind of when I said this would be a good place for an ice cream shop,” he said.

LaPierre said he’s sinking a fair amount of money into the building, and while he hopes the ice cream shop is successful, it’s also nice to be able to restore the property.

LaPierre said that if everything goes well the shop will open in May, though that could change based on weather. Once opened he expects the shop will operate seven days per week and he’s hoping it can remain open until October.

“I see a lot of ice cream shops close down on Labor Day, but we have some nice falls up here, so we are hoping we can extend the season a bit,” he said.

Although construction began in November of 2024, LaPierre said the Pierrepont planners approved his project Jan. 22. Prior to that, County Planners said the project should move forward, but with some modifications to the plan.

The board suggested the parking area and access drive areas laid out in his plan be switched to improve pedestrian safety.

Doing so would allow the pedestrians to reach the shop's window without having to cross the parking lot.

Planners also suggested creating a barrier along the highway to improve safety and said buffers should be placed along adjacent lawns.

Planners said any lighting should be downcast and "dark sky" compliant and signage should meet the Town of Pierrepont's standards.

LaPierre said he’s got a plan to address those concerns and is hoping to add some additional shrubbery and foliage.

He said that while there is still a lot of work to be done, he’s had a lot of support from the public who are both excited for an ice cream shop and to see the old store put to good use.

LaPierre also owns LaPierre Waste, which provides residential trash hauling services and roll off trash container rentals.

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