Floyd County in southern Indiana is home to two popular ice cream shops – Berry Twist in Floyds Knobs and Polly’s Freeze in Georgetown. They are both synonymous with summer nights in the county, and loyal customers line up in freezing weather in February just to get their fix on opening day.
I talked to Lindsey Libs, owner and operator of Berry Twist, and Carol Boyle, owner of Polly’s Freeze, to learn the history of the two shops and what it takes to run a local staple of their respective communities.
How long have you been involved with your restaurant?
Libs: My husband Josh and I have owned Berry Twist since October of 2016, so we’re starting our 10th year of owning it. We knew we wanted to own something of our own, and we saw it pop up for sale on Facebook and contacted the old owners to meet. They took a leap of faith on us after meeting with a lot of potential buyers. They said they saw themselves in us as they were also only engaged when they purchased it from the first owners, and we were young and excited to take it to a new level.
Boyle: Polly’s Freeze has been around since 1952. I personally began working at Polly’s in 1987. My husband, Glen, and our partners Dave and Heather Dowdell bought Polly’s in February 2016 and have been running it ever since.
What is the best part of running a restaurant that is a staple in the community?
Libs: Honestly, it’s the people and employees. We see the same families come back year after year wanting to make their own memories with their kids reminiscing on the days they used to come as kids just like Josh and I did. It’s really special to be a part of people’s traditions, whether it’s after a baseball game, a summer night treat, or celebrating something big. We also love seeing employees excited to come back every year. We’ve had a lot of employees become friends with people they may have never spoken to, so it’s great to see friend groups form.
Boyle: The best part of running Polly’s is two-fold. One, I love our customers and the stories that I hear from them. Some of the stories involve them coming here on their dates and now coming back to celebrate 50 years later. There are several generations that come up here together to enjoy family time. We celebrate lots of birthdays. I never get tired of hearing these stories.
Second, I enjoy the relationships we build with the people who work at Polly’s. They become part of our Polly’s family. We try to keep the family atmosphere alive by hosting team-building activities and seasonal events throughout the year. The team that plays together, stays together! We especially enjoy the long-term bond we have with past employees. We get invited to many life events – graduations, weddings, baby showers, etc.
What do you want your restaurant to be known for?
Libs: Definitely quality and creativity, but also just being a fun, welcoming place. We take a lot of pride in our soft serve and making things like our own sherbet in-house, and we love coming up with unique flavors and treats you can’t really get anywhere else. But just as important, we want people to feel good when they’re here, like it’s a place they enjoy coming back to.
Boyle: I want Polly’s Freeze to be known as a place where families can come and enjoy each other’s company. It’s a place to slow down. Life is too busy these days. Come out and join us for an afternoon of good eats and fellowship. Let us do the cooking and enjoy your favorite soft serve treat! We love hearing of new or ongoing Polly’s traditions. It’s awesome to think of yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s generations continuing to enjoy a trip back to 1952 and the magic of Polly’s Freeze.
What is it like running one of two iconic ice cream shops in the area, and what are your thoughts on the faux “rivalry” between you two?
Libs: I think it’s honestly more fun than anything. Polly’s Freeze has been around forever, too, and both places have their own loyal customers and traditions. I don’t really see it as a serious rivalry, it’s more like we’re both part of what makes this area special. At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to serve great ice cream and be part of the community.
Boyle: Rivalry? There is only one Polly’s Freeze! All joking aside, we each have a loyal customer base. Many folks enjoy both Polly’s Freeze and Berry Twist. We each bring our own unique treats and environment to our customers. What may appear to be a spirited rivalry on the outside is mutual respect as community staples.
How do you keep people coming back rather than going to a fast food restaurant or a grocery store for their sweet treats?
Libs: You can’t really compete with fast food or grocery stores on convenience, so we focus on experience. When people come here, it’s not just about grabbing something quick, it’s about slowing down, enjoying time together, and getting something that feels a little more special. We also try to keep things fresh with new flavors, fun specials, and really good customer service. If people feel that difference, they’ll keep coming back.
Boyle: We are very particular about the products that we serve. We taste test a lot of items to get the one that we like the best. Our soft serve is of higher cream content than most others which gives us high end, delicious treats people crave. The same goes for the rest of our menu items. We listen to customer feedback and work in seasonal variety to present new food items and delicacies, too. The main draw is Polly’s Freeze itself. It is an iconic destination. The neon parrot has been a staple to the community since 1952! During our 10 seasons of ownership, we have continuously invested and improved facilities. Some are obvious while others are not. Our objective is to ensure that we continue to be the go-to place for some good old fashioned family time or a quick Polly Burger and treat!