Sarah CR Clark
Parkview Ice Cream Shop, 898 Raymond Ave., planned to greet its first customers in mid–August.
At the Bugle’s latest press deadline, owner Andy McNattin was putting finishing touches on the shop.
McNattin is also a licensed contractor whose home improvement business, Homemasters, has done steady work throughout the Bugle’s neighborhoods for 15 years.
With that experience, McNattin has spent the last couple of years transforming Parkview’s building from a hair salon into space for an ice cream shop.
“Ice cream really suits this space,” McNattin said. “It’s a small space without a full commercial kitchen. And there are not a lot of ice cream shops nearby.”
Born and raised in St. Paul and Roseville, McNattin remembers the Parkview Cafe (once located where the Hampden Park Co-Op is now).
“The name is an homage to the cafe,” McNattin explained. “It was a truck stop and my dad was a truck driver. My family would meet him there sometimes for breakfast when he was working.”
Hampden Park also happens to be visible just across the street from the shop. “The park is right there! You can just walk across the street to sit with your ice cream,” McNattin noted. “Which I really like, because if you look around at other ice cream shops, their options for outdoor seating are limited to sidewalks.”
McNattin hopes Parkview’s location will invite connections to other local businesses, like Bang Brewing Company.
“I can totally see someone grabbing a pint from Parkview and walking over to Bang to enjoy a beer and ice cream. South St. Anthony Park has a lot going on and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Parkview will sell Minnesota–made Bridgeman’s ice cream, another significant connection to McNattin and the neighborhood.
“The Finnish Bistro used to be a Bridgeman’s, which I remember — even when I didn’t live in the neighborhood — because I had friends here. It’s good, chunky ice cream with lots of flavors.
“I’m planning to keep it simple for now. As we get more experience and figure things out, there will be ways to expand.”
McNattin said he is also excited to share the experience of running an ice cream shop with his daughters, who will be in 11th and 9th grades at Central High School.
While Parkview will offer all the standard favorites, McNattin also intends to serve black licorice ice cream, which he promises is “surprisingly delicious,” as well as the brightly blue hued, kid–favorite Superman flavor.
McNattin said he expects the ice cream shop will be a respite during the dog days of summer.
“Some evening when it’s hot and maybe you’re done with whatever work you’ve been doing, someone in your house might say, ‘Let’s walk over to get some ice cream!’” McNattin said. “Parkview will be there, ready for you.”
Updates on hours, flavors and more are available on Instagram, @parkviewicecream.
Sarah CR Clark lives in St. Anthony Park and is a regular freelance writer for the Bugle.
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Parkview Ice Cream Shop owner Andy McNattin prepares to open his Raymond Ave shop in September. Photo by Ben Lancette.
