Harrisburg’s B&G Milkyway opens today
July 19, 2021
Three years of waiting are over for Harrisburg.
B&G Milkyway opens its ice cream shop today in the growing community south of Sioux Falls.
The local chain announced in 2018 that it had a franchisee for the location and that the shop likely would open in two years. That was before delays in finding a contractor, said Kasey Iverson, who owns the location along with his brother, Travis. They also have the shops in Brandon and on Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls.
“I just went to get ice, and they’re like, ‘When are you going to open?’” Iverson said as he and manager Angela Severson did last-minute tasks before the noon hour. “Everybody’s asking me that all the time. … The community’s really, really excited.”
The location, which is on Cliff Avenue across the street and north of Fareway, will be drive-thru only likely until next season, Severson said.
Windows haven’t arrived for the front counter in the lobby, and with a new crew, keeping the drive-thru going will be enough, she said. Some of the the Milkyways have just started to reopen the lobbies, which have been closed since the start of the pandemic here over a year ago.
Severson didn’t have any trouble finding workers. She received 200 applications from teenagers for the 21 positions. Some of them have been training at the Brandon store and a couple of veterans from there will help during the first few weeks.
The ice cream shops are seasonal, but she’s looking for a few adults or work-study students to fill daytime positions once school starts.
In addition to soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, malts, shakes, Avalanches and other frozen treats, the shop serves food such as sloppy joes, hot dogs, corn dogs and walking tacos.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 10 p.m. Sunday. Once school starts, it will close earlier. The Harrisburg location likely will be open until mid-October unless frigid weather returns sooner and will reopen in March, Severson said.
