HOLLAND, MI -- At the end of the line, behind the counter stand the unsung heroes of summer: ice cream scoopers.
Perfectly positioned between one of Lake Michigan’s most popular campgrounds and beaches sits the iconic red Ottawa Beach General Store.
The wraparound porch lined with picnic tables is a beach haven for those walking to and from Holland State Park.
What makes this store the elite summer spot? It offers more than 40 ice cream flavors.
Each tub is three gallons, and the store expects to go through one a day for the most popular flavors like Michigan Pothole, Mackinac Island Fudge and Sleeping Bear Dunes Bear Hug.
In one day alone, Grace Hughes, 19, says she and the crew scooped 50 cones of Michigan Pothole.
“My triceps muscles get big by the end of the summer,” said Hughes, who has worked at the General Store for five years
The building underwent a significant renovation last year, but you’d never know looking at it. And that’s kind of the point. The building maintains the same vintage charm as when it opened in the 1930s.
Construction crews demolished the building “below the studs,” down to the basement where the foundation was cracked with tree roots, longtime operator Linda Dykert said.
Before the demolition the crew saved iconic features like beams, doors, posts, floor grates, a bakery case and the 12-foot-long front counter.
Dykert said they tested many, many shades of red to match it to the original.
The last time the building got a fresh coat of paint was around 2010 when the store was purchased by RDV Corp. The Grand Rapids investment firm, owned by the Richard DeVos family, purchased the building after it went into foreclosure.
One year in the newly renovated building and Dykert said customers have been complimentary − some asking if the demolition even happened yet.
Major upgrades include expanding the ice cream room, including adding a walk-in freezer.
The store moves enough ice cream that freezer burn isn’t an issue, Dykert said. But storage has improved greatly from the previous structure of two standing freezers, she said.
With a hot start to summer, the improvements came just in time for one of their busiest seasons to date. This Fourth of July, every flavor has a backup, and then a couple more backups.
“I’ve ordered more [three-gallon] tubs than ever before,” Dykert said. “Our volume has been so big. I’m anticipating a really great weekend.”
Beyond ice cream, the general store is in the sugar business in all forms.
Early in the morning the crew makes fresh donuts daily. The store also expanded its candy selection for an endless sugar rush.
The renovation also made more room for Lake Michigan, Holland and Ottawa Beach General Store-themed merch. The expanded souvenir section has been a big hit, Dykert said.
“There’s so many [visitors] from out of state and out of the country, so it’s a really fun thing to be part of that community that welcomes them to Holland,” she said.
Still true to its roots, the general store has all the odds and ends travelers are looking for. From honey to WD-40, the store’s inventory has expanded and evolved year-over-year based on what customers ask for, Dykert said.
The latest request this week was baby powder to help remove sticky sand. It’s already added to the list, Dykert said.

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