The Beach Times
The Top 5 Mom and Pop Shops in Barnstable
Posted by Kinlin Grover | Thursday, February 11, 2021
You'll find mom and pop shops all over the Cape, as the abundance of local businesses is one of the things that makes this community special.
Each of Barnstable's seven villages features some of these small businesses, with a few of them standing out from the rest because of their quality.
Cape Cod residents and visitors alike love these retailers because of the high-quality products they provide, along with their outstanding service. This list includes both markets and restaurants, so whether you're cooking a meal at your vacation rental or want to eat out, there's an option for you.
Here's a look at the top five mom and pop shops in Barnstable, Massachusetts.
1) Lambert's Fruit Centerville
Centerville has a lot going for it thanks to its convenient location and scenic beaches. The village is mostly residential, so you'll find a fair number of vacation rentals from which to choose.
Lambert's Fruit Centerville is located where Route 28 and Main Street meet in Centerville, making it easy to find from anywhere on the Cape. Once inside, you'll notice that this mom and pop shop is a market, deli, and takeaway restaurant in one, giving you multiple choices when stopping in for a meal.
The prepared options are some of the most popular, as you can grab prime rib, seafood, pasta, and many cooked dinner items to enjoy later on. They also have fresh produce, a decent selection of wine, and homemade soups. You can eat in the outdoor dining area, too.
All of this comes together to make this locally owned business one of the best mom and pop shops in Barnstable.
2) Barnstable Market
Barnstable Market is a throwback to the general stores of the past, as this retailer has a little bit of everything. Here, you can grab some beer or wine, pick up your groceries for the week, buy some fresh donuts or pastries from the bakery, or seek out a prepared meal to enjoy on-site or at your vacation rental.
However, that's not all, as this Barnstable Village retailer also sells souvenirs, dinnerware, and paintings while focusing on using local suppliers for as many goods as possible.
Barnstable Market is conveniently located on Main Street, across the street from the Barnstable District Court. As a bonus, you can give them a call from the beach ahead of time, and your order will be ready to go when you arrive.
3) The Little Sandwich Shop
Hyannis' Main Street is a bustling area that's full of life in the summer. There are plenty of dining options in downtown Hyannis, with The Little Sandwich Shop being one of the top places to stop for lunch.
Much as its name suggests, The Little Sandwich Shop is a tiny restaurant specializing in sandwiches, including subs, Reubens, wraps, and vegetarian options. They have burgers, salads, and a kid's menu, too.
The same husband and wife team has owned The Little Sandwich Shop since it opened, and they're committed to making everything they serve from scratch using only the best ingredients they can find.
It can be easy to miss The Little Sandwich Shop because it's just a tiny hole in the wall, but it's highly recommended that you give them a try on your Cape Cod vacation.
4) Pain D'Avignon Restaurant Boulangerie
Located just off Iyannough Road and down the street from the Cape Cod Mall, Pain D'Avignon Restaurant Boulangerie is a bakery and restaurant in one.
This shop started as a bakery in 1992, as the owners wanted to bring Old World breadmaking techniques to the Cape. They don't use any preservatives in their bread, ensuring that you can enjoy their products in their most authentic form.
The restaurant is open for breakfast and also offers a fine dining experience later on in the day. They have a wine room with an extensive list, as well.
When searching for one of Cape Cod's most exclusive dining experiences, don't miss Pain D'Avignon Restaurant Boulangerie in Hyannis.
5) Spoon & Seed
There's an industrial park just north of Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, and truthfully, it's one of the last places you'd expect to find a great mom and pop restaurant on the Cape.
However, this is the location of the Spoon & Seed, a restaurant specializing in breakfast and lunch that also has take and bake meals for dinner.
As a result, you can head to the diner for bacon and eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, and other morning and afternoon favorites, or grab a pre-cooked pizza, pasta, or chicken dish to re-heat at your vacation rental.
If you don't want to cook but wish to enjoy a wonderful farm-to-table meal, the Spoon & Seed is an outstanding option.
Barnstable's Mom and Pop Shops
While mom and pop shops might be a dying breed in many parts of the country, they're thriving on Cape Cod. Special attention is paid to these local retailers on the Cape, helping ensure they survive for generations to come.
Make sure you support these small businesses on Cape Cod during your vacation. Not only is this support good for the community, but you're also sure to receive outstanding quality and service every time you stop by.
Barnstable Villlage Cape Cod Restaurants Cape Cod Shopping Centerville Hyannis
The Past and Present of Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville
Posted by Kinlin Grover | Monday, January 27, 2020
Have you ever wondered why Cape Cod has such a massive ice cream scene?
It seems as though you can't walk more than a couple of blocks on some parts of the Cape without coming across an ice cream shop, as locals and visitors alike expect to find these sweet treats everywhere in the summer.
While we don't know why Cape Cod ice cream is so popular, Four Seas Ice Cream might have something to do with it.
You see, there was a time when Four Seas Ice Cream was a known hangout for members of the Kennedy family, and their love of this particular shop is well documented.
National publications would show pictures of the Kennedy family enjoying some ice cream from Four Seas, making people around the country aware of these desserts on the Cape.
We can't say for sure that the Kennedys are responsible for the popularity of ice cream here, but we do know that people return to places like Four Seas year after year because of the quality flavors they produce.
The History of the Shop
Four Seas Ice Cream is Cape Cod's oldest ice cream shop, having opened its doors in 1934. The store comes from humble beginnings, as W. Wells Watson, an insurance salesperson from Boston, purchased an old blacksmith's shop, converting it into its current form.
Watson, along with a partner, lost a lot of money in the first few years, but after buying out the partner, the shop exploded in popularity, becoming an integral part of summers on Cape Cod.
In 1960, Watson sold the shop to Richard Warren, a new college graduate who had worked at the shop in the summers. Warren operated the shop with wife, Georgia, and later his second wife, Linda, until 1999 when he transitioned ownership to his son, Douglas.
Today, Douglas and his wife, Peggy, still own and operate the shop, making every batch of ice cream by hand in the backroom, just as it has been done since 1934.
The shop looks just as it did in 1934, as well, except for some new coats of paint and a few modern upgrades.
Four Seas Ice Cream is an institution in Centerville, and if all goes according to plan, it will remain as such for generations to come.
What's on the Menu?
As you might expect, the main item on the menu at Four Seas Ice Cream is ice cream, as they have dozens of flavors available at any given time.
Some flavors are seasonal, such as fresh strawberry, which is made with strawberries picked on Cape Cod. In addition, the store's peach flavored ice cream is only available when southern peaches are ripe because Doug Warren believes they're far superior to California peaches.
Other seasonal flavors include gingerbread, creme brulee, egg nog, pumpkin spice, and cranberry bog, and there is a selection of sherbets and non-dairy options, as well.
In addition to ice cream, you can also get a light lunch at Four Seas Ice Cream, with the headliner being the shop's famous lobster rolls. Other options include hot dogs, mac and cheese, soup, chili, lobster salad, and a variety of sandwiches.
The menu at Four Seas Ice Cream might be small, but you're sure to find anything you could ever want at an ice cream shop here.
The Ice Cream Making Process
Everything available at Four Seas Ice Cream is made in the backroom of the building by hand. As a result, during the peak season, Doug and Peggy Warren will make as much as 680 gallons of ice cream per day, all using one machine.
The process begins by pouring an ice cream base mix into a hand-powered churn, which is what creates the ice cream. After everything is mixed, the flavors are added, and the final product is stored in containers.
The containers of ice cream are kept in freezers, with the main freezer being about the same size as the entire front room of the shop. The large size is because the store needs to keep an incredible amount of product on hand in the summer since it's so busy.
Visiting Four Seas Ice Cream
Take the time to visit Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville during your Cape Cod vacation, and you won't be disappointed. While it's likely that you'll encounter a line during the peak season, it moves quickly because most people are only ordering ice cream.
The shop is located on South Main Street in Centerville, 0.6 miles from Craigville Beach. As a result, you can walk to the shop from the beach in about 10 minutes, or drive in two minutes, if you're not worried about giving up your parking spot.
Four Seas Ice Cream is a significant part of the past, present, and future of Centerville. If your vacation rental is in this area, make sure you stop by for a cone.
Centerville Craigville Beach Four Seas Ice Cream Ice Cream The Kennedys