Violetto, hoping to build on the success, is taking steps to expand the idea in the tri-state area and beyond by talking with potential franchisees.

"A lot of parents come here and say this is an amazing idea," Violetto said. "They want to know if we were going to open other shops."

In the Little Scoops party room, children eat pizza and play interactive games that are set to popular music. The party later moves to the front room, decorated like a retro 1950s ice cream parlor, where the children create sundaes with colorful toppings.

Little Scoops was booked a month in advance before the business opened in September 2002 at the Blauvelt Mini-Mall. Violetto and her partner Tanya Ehrlich have hosted hundreds of birthday parties since. Within a year, Violetto hopes five additional franchised stores will be open in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Long-term, her ambitions are for 100 stores.

"We would love to take it national," she said. "We have different people from other parts of the country come in and say 'This would do great in Arizona, this would do great in Florida.'"

Little Scoops expects to charge a franchise fee of $20,000. Estimated startup costs for a franchise are $80,000 to $100,000.

"We have at least five potential franchisees waiting to speak with us," Violetto said.

Violetto dreamed of the business for years but procrastinated as she raised her children. An incentive to push forward ultimately came from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Her husband is a New York City fire captain who helped with recovery at Ground Zero.

"It made us think life is short," she said. "You need to take a chance and try to fulfill a dream before it's too late. I always knew I could do this."

Little Scoops is getting assistance from franchise strategist Gary Occhiogrosso, a 20-year industry veteran who has assisted with several concepts, including the launch of the Ranch*1 franchise in 1993.

Click Here For More Information on the Little Scoops Franchise Opportunity

Source: The Journal News
Author: Jay Loomis