TUSCUMBIA — When The Palace announced via Facebook in January that it was closing, the Tuscumbia community was distraught.
“Noooo! We love the Palace! My daughter was fascinated our first time there and seeing all of the old pictures. This breaks my heart to lose such a historical place.”
“This is heartbreaking! The Palace is such a special part of Tuscumbia. Downtown will never be the same.”
“Oh noooo!!!! I grew up in Tuscumbia and the Palace was ALWAYS a staple in the community!! We will always cherish the memories and miss y’all dearly!!”
However, a couple who have been integral to the revitalization of downtown found out and got to work. The city was without its beloved ice cream shop for only 10 days, from Jan. 20-30, when it reopened under the ownership of Josh Kelley, Ashley Morrow and Skip Nichols.
“We received a phone call that The Palace was closing and we immediately started reaching out to see what we could do to either help keep it open or become its new owner,” Morrow said. “That little corner of Tuscumbia holds so many precious memories and future memories for this community and we are so proud to be a part of them.”
The couple owns several businesses, including The Palace, The Shoppe at Coldwater, Coldwater Coffee and Mercantile Co., The Pour House, Allstate agency, and the Parlor at the Palace, a new event venue.
“We are always looking at new opportunities to create jobs and connections,” Morrow said.
While Morrow and Nichols kept the downtime short, they did make a few changes at The Palace Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop, including adding a walking Frito pie and a red, white, and blue salad to the menu.
“We kept the menu as is but with four new delicious additions of our own as well as adding free-play, small arcade machines,” Morrow said. “The games have been a huge hit with the kiddos.” The arcade games are Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Tempest.
When you step into The Palace you notice the old-time ice cream shop tables and chairs, a black countertop where customers can enjoy their meals on barstools, a mirrored wall behind the counter, and five tall windows that offer views of Main and Fifth streets.
Photos from the early days of Tuscumbia adorn the walls and an old red bicycle with a wooden basket hangs from the ceiling.
On a recent lunch visit, I indulged in a delicious chicken salad sandwich made with grapes, cranberries and pecans, and my daughter had a “juicy, fresh, melty” bacon cheeseburger and a game of Pac-Man.
It was a bit like stepping back in time for me, a Gen-Xer who, as a preteen, used to walk to my local drugstore to get a scoop of chocolate ice cream and thumb through the latest Teen Beat magazine.
The Palace is open Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Morrow said they hope to offer extended hours in the summer.
“Let’s be honest – who doesn’t want ice cream for dinner?” she said. “The Palace is such a special place for the community. Its throwback feel and delicious treats make it a place that people visit time and time again. Our staff feels like family to our customers.
“If you don’t have a place that you feel at home, you will feel at home here.”
The Palace Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop is at 100 South Main Street in Tuscumbia.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
