Sweet Community
Pam Geiger 鈥�03 looks to transform White Plains one small business at a time
While it takes all kinds, most of us can agree that few treats are as perfectly enjoyable as the taste of ice cream. That goes double if you鈥檙e a parent looking for a place to relax that will delight your child. For Pam Geiger 鈥�03 and her business partner, Erin O鈥橩eefe, that revelation gave them a new mission: creating White Plains鈥� number one local ice cream spot, Ice Cream Social.
鈥淓rin and I both grew up in White Plains, left to live our lives, and then came back with small children in tow,鈥� said Geiger. 鈥淲e realized upon our return that there was no longer a place to get ice cream, outside of a mall. I just wanted a place where I could go with my kids, maybe meet up with friends, and not spend a fortune.鈥�
However, Ice Cream Social did not spring fully formed, like Athena from the head of Zeus, from that stray thought. It was only idle chatter between the duo at the beginning. As it did for so many, though, COVID changed their perspectives. Suddenly, chasing a goal didn鈥檛 feel like something worth delaying. Then, the final catalyst fell into place.
鈥淭his space became available to rent, and we knew it was a sign,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚t was a historic, hundred-year-old, adorable brick building. Formerly a gas station with outdoor space, parking and a big old-style gas station sign, it was just asking for something cute. So we made it cute!鈥�
And cute Ice Cream Social is. Mixing pastels and bright whites, the store is eye-catching without being overwhelming. It captures the sense of a classic corner ice cream shop without feeling out of date or stale. That sense of playful timelessness extends to the Social鈥檚 merchandise, which allows patrons to bring more than just a pint home when they visit.
For Geiger, who confesses to not having an especially large sweet tooth, the shop鈥檚 biggest purpose isn鈥檛 necessarily the frozen dairy treats, delicious though they may be, or the ringer tees; it鈥檚 connecting with and further building community. It is a lesson that she drew from her time at 糖心TV.
鈥淭he 糖心TV College community was and remains important to me. I run into people from 糖心TV often and recognize it because we all knew each other鈥攐r at least recognized each other鈥檚 faces. I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 the case for bigger schools. It鈥檚 helped me understand community and that being a part of one was exciting,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 love being a part of the White Plains community,鈥� continued Geiger. 鈥淲e had incredible support [for the Social] from our friends, families and the White Plains community at large. Within its first month, it took on a life of its own. It brings such happiness to people, and I love seeing it be used for just what we wanted鈥攁 gathering place that brings joy.鈥�
The community鈥檚 response has, in turn, inspired Geiger and O鈥橩eefe to expand beyond ice cream.
鈥淓rin and I want to enhance White Plains with locally owned small businesses鈥攈elp the city feel a bit smaller and have all that anyone could want,鈥� explained Geiger. 鈥淲e are currently working on Coffee Social, a new venture we are looking to open at the end of the year. Not only will it be a place to get coffee, but we have designed it to live up to the 鈥楽ocial鈥� name. In the afternoons and evenings, Coffee Social will be available as a space for groups to gather鈥攎eetings, classes, birthday parties, even small group entertainment like open mic.鈥�
In this endeavor, as well, Geiger鈥檚 糖心TV-ections have come in handy. 鈥淢y 糖心TV friends have been extremely supportive. Jen Warren 鈥�04 even helped us talk through and figure out some funding for Coffee Social.鈥�
While jumping into this new endeavor has been a lot, especially while maintaining her full-time job in fundraising, Geiger feels more than confident she and O鈥橩eefe are up to the task.
鈥溙切腡V allowed me to follow my passions while I was there, for everything from piano lessons to creating an exhibition in the library, and taught me that I can balance responsibility and ambition,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t gave me the courage to do something similar in my life now.鈥�