Family business on Alexander offers infinite variations of rolled ice cream.
In May, Danielle Copeland, her father Wayne Copeland, and her aunt, Denise Dover, joined together to buy and operate 32 Below, which is in the same plaza as Premiere Cinemas on Alexander Street. Wayne has lived in Plant City for 20 years.
The way 32 Below makes their ice cream is to roll it. The process is to pour cream on a flat freezing surface and mix in a flavor or flavors. That becomes the ice cream base. This base is then rolled up with a spatula into layered cylinders the size of egg rolls. The 32 below staff can then add various toppings. So, 32 below has an infinite number of ice cream flavors and combinations. “You dream it, we’ll make it,” Wayne said.
“Rolled ice cream is a little lighter on the palate,” Danielle said. “It’s not so heavy on the stomach, or heavy on the sweet. We’ve also been told our recipe is easy on the gut for those with lactose intolerance. We are more than just boba and rolled ice cream. We’ve got mochi, acai bowls, lots of coffee flavors, cappuccinos, muffins, danish, and brownies. We have popping boba, which is the same size pearls, but they are filled with strawberry, peach, mango, or other fruit juice flavors.”
The six young ladies who worked for the former owners still serve customers at 32 Below. “We inherited six wonderful girls,” Danielle said. “They are some of the most responsible, trustworthy, honest people you’ve ever met. They are truly, truly remarkable. They made this a smooth transition. Without them, we would not be where we are. I can’t praise them enough. They make this go every day. God really lined it up for us by sending them.”
The family-owned 32 Below is family-oriented. “We want people to come in and enjoy their family time with us,” Danielle said. “We want to be a pillar of the community for students, and for families to come in and enjoy their family time with us; put down the phones and the tablets and take a minute and enjoy a comfy spot with a nice vibe.” The establishment added some nostalgia by putting an old-school chalkboard on the wall that lists their menu. For those who are movie buffs, the seller billed it as a former prop from the movie Jaws. “We get a lot of kids who come in after school. That is one of our favorite things, to be a safe haven for them. Some of them come in to wait for their rides. They know they can come in, play a game, or wait for mom or dad to pick them up. Another favorite thing is, on the weekends, the families that come in and use our game area to enjoy their treats and play a game of Uno, or Sorry, or Jenga.”
In addition to supporting families, the daughter and father have a mindset to serve the community; 32 Below held a Coffee with a Cop event on October 30, and they contributed a coupon for the Plant City High School baseball team coupon book.
The 32 Below address is 208 Alexander Street W. They are open:
Noon to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
Noon to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday
