Get your sweet tooth ready, because Mr. Softee opened its doors to the public this past weekend on March 1. The new shop, located on Carleton Avenue in East Islip, marks the first physical location on Long Island. It is located in the same shop where Pam’s Ice Cream Shoppe operated for over 50 years.

Owner Jimmy Ilya has been running Mr. Softee trucks since 2007. The trucks operate out of East Hampton and Austin, Texas. After 18 years, Ilya has finally decided to open a brick-and-mortar location.

The shop will be a family business, with Ilya’s son working at the location, as well as Ilya’s wife, who will be making the crepes.

“So many people [were] calling; they said, ‘When [are] you opening?’ Ilya said. “It was a good feeling; [the] store is a totally different experience for me because the truck is different.”

Before deciding to open a physical store, Ilya took a trip to Yorktown Heights in November of last year to speak with the owner of another Mr. Softee store, who has been operating for two years. He got to see what profits can be made in comparison to a truck. The main difference is that Ilya is keeping his shop open year-round, whereas his truck franchise is seasonal, from April to October.

Ilya maintained most of the appearance from the previous owners, adding his own touch to his new shop. He did the fixtures, tiles and ceiling. He added another soft-serve machine and purchased an extra freezer.

When you walk into the shop, the first thing you may notice is a neon LED “Mr. Softee” sign that gives a vintage, nostalgic feeling. The decor put in place was selected by Ilya, including Turkish pieces.

Rather than being limited to the two standard flavors of ice cream available on a truck, vanilla and chocolate, Mr. Softee has a variety of flavors. One that stands out the most is Red Bull.

Other flavors include honey almond, banana, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, Italian caramel, Nutella and more. Something on the menu that hasn’t been seen in other ice cream shops is the Ice Cream Burger. The idea comes from a popular Turkish delicacy, and involves wafers filled with cream and three scoops of ice cream in between, creating a delectable treat.

Ilya ensured his customers didn’t break the bank by checking out other local ice cream shops and adjusting his prices to be affordable and economic. Those who stop by can enjoy a sweet treat at a reasonable cost.

“I love what I’m doing; I love this business,” Ilya said. “Trust me, since [the] first day, I love it.”

Mr. Softee will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.