Sheri Bell didn’t set out to create just another place to grab an ice cream cone. She wanted to create the kind of place she wished had been there when her own kids were young — somewhere in Tavistock where families could slow down, share a treat and make a memory without having to leave town.
“It goes back to when my kids were young, when options here in Tavistock were limited,” said Sheri, owner of Tavi Chill. Aside from the occasional short-term shop, families often had to drive elsewhere for ice cream.
“I really wanted to open something up where people could come and enjoy ice cream, enjoy quality time together and create many fond memories.”
That vision opened its doors in September 2022 — fittingly, on Fall Fair weekend — as an ice cream parlour and deli serving Kawartha Dairy ice cream alongside made-to-order sandwiches, salads and soups.
From day one, homemade, hand-rolled waffle cones, made fresh in-house, were a non-negotiable part of the plan. For Sheri, it’s about more than flavour.
“I’ve always believed that memories correlate with many senses,” she said. “With the smell of the waffle cones often wafting out into the street, I am hopeful that in years to come, many memories of Tavistock and Tavi Chill will be recollected and many more made here over time.”
That instinct for creating an experience, rather than simply serving a product, shows up throughout the shop. Board games, Ms. PacMan, sidewalk chalk and activities are available for families to enjoy together, and each December, Tavi Chill offers its own unique ice cream advent calendars — 24 individually packaged surprise flavours to enjoy over 24 days. The popular tradition is set to launch shortly for a third year.
“People really have a lot of fun with it and the positive feedback has been tremendous,” Sheri said.
There is a quieter point of pride behind the counter as well. All ice cream flavours containing nuts are kept completely separate in a dedicated back-room freezer to help minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
Running the business has come with its own learning curve. Marketing, Sheri admits, has been tougher to master than expected. She and her daughter, Ashlyn, know that maintaining a strong social media presence is critical and continue to explore ways to use it most effectively.
Rising costs have been another challenge for small businesses, from minimum wage increases to climbing supply prices.
“I feel terrible when we have to increase our prices for the customers,” Sheri said, “but we do still have to make ends meet, although our goal has always been to keep the cost of ice cream and the experience associated with it affordable and accessible to all.”
Tavi Chill itself came together somewhat spontaneously.
“When we started here, it was somewhat of a spur-of-the-moment decision sparked by the location becoming available,” Sheri said.
She went into the venture with limited business experience and had not done extensive research beforehand. Everything from health inspections to day-to-day operations has been learned along the way.
That experience has shaped the advice she would offer anyone considering starting a new business.
“Owning and operating a business in any community takes a tremendous amount of time, dedication and effort,” she said. “That being said, taking the time to research and understand the resources available to you can be extremely beneficial in helping turn your vision and dreams into reality. There is a great deal of support available to small businesses, and knowing where to find it can make a meaningful difference.”
Growth at Tavi Chill is very much underway. Sheri is looking to expand the menu to include slushies and soft-serve ice cream, alongside the already-popular custom-made ice cream cakes. The shop is also eyeing grab-and-go options such as take-home ice cream sandwiches, ice cream tacos and more.
Dairy-free and sugar-free offerings are in the works as well, widening the shop’s reach to more families and accommodating additional dietary needs.
Catering has quietly become a meaningful part of the business, too. Tavi Chill supplies pick-up trays, caters various events and provides the food each year for Tavistock’s community Picnic in the Park. This year’s event drew around 180 people for sandwiches, salads and ice cream.
Partnerships within the community are another important part of the business. One that stands out to Sheri is the local Tavistock Men’s Club. Tavi Chill caters a dinner annually for the club and uses the club’s own homemade sauerkraut in its Reuben sandwiches.
The shop also supports many local initiatives, from sporting clubs and school fundraisers to the library, Fall Fair, Tavistock Assistance Program and more. It’s a small, ongoing exchange that speaks to how closely local businesses and community organizations in Tavistock support one another.
For Sheri, who lives right in Tavistock, that community connection is what she enjoys most about doing business in Rural Oxford.
“The people,” she said simply. “It’s so nice to see familiar faces as well as the many new faces coming in while passing through.”
Most customers, she has noticed, arrive looking to spend quality time with family and friends. That makes the day-to-day experience of running the shop feel less like work and more like an extension of the community itself.
Today, Tavi Chill is staffed by a team of seven to 10 local employees, depending on the season, and continues to grow alongside the community it was created to serve.
Four years after opening its doors, Tavi Chill has become the place Sheri once wished Tavistock had — a place where families can gather, neighbours can catch up and visitors can stop for something sweet.
And while the menu continues to grow, the heart of the business remains much the same as it was on that first Fall Fair weekend: good ice cream, time together and the chance to make a memory that might just last long after the last bite of a waffle cone.
Tavi Chill
Sheri Bell
10 Hope St. W., Tavistock, ON
East Zorra-Tavistock Township
Established 2022
(519) 412-4455
facebook.com/tavichill