It took years of graduate school, a brief career as a pharmacist, and a stint running his own medical-writing consulting business to prepare dadpreneur Derek Dore for his dream job: owning the Hodgies Too ice cream stand in Salisbury. In this interview, the dad of three shares the romantic story behind his ice cream aspirations, Hodgies' family-focused business model, and how his kids reacted to the Big News.
Macaroni Kid Newburyport: So...I guess the pharmacy business wasn't for you?
Derek Dore:
The whole story begins with my future wife and I working at the original Hodgies in Amesbury while we were both in high school. She got the job first, and she put in a good word for me! It was a happy place - great atmosphere to work in and to visit as a customer. As far back as high school I thought, "I'd love to own a Hodgies!"
We both graduated high school and went to pharmacy school at the University of Rhode Island. Then we got married and and started practicing as pharmacists. We moved back to Amesbury, worked at different jobs, and after a while I started a medical writing consulting business.
Pharmacy wasn't my passion - or my wife's, either. Both of her parents were teachers and she always had this pull that she wanted to try teaching. So after having three kids, my wife started teaching at Amesbury Middle School as a life sciences teacher. She realized her dream.
Then I heard that the owners of Hodgies Too in Salisbury were ready to move on, and I jumped right at it! I already thought working at Hodgies was the best job ever - there was nothing that compared with that whole Hodgies world.
MK Newburyport: "Hodgies world"? Is Hodgies really that different from your average ice cream stand?Derek:
I think there is a difference. Actually there are three things about the Hodgies concept that have always made people happy: First, we make our own premium-gourmet ice cream. Second, our portion sizes have always been very generous. Third, you're getting generous portions of high-quality ice cream for a very good value.
Beyond that, Hodgies has always had great people working there. Our team is made up of young kids with great personalities, and our customer service has always been top-notch. You're greeted with a smile and the friendly old-fashioned service creates a great atmosphere for eating your ice cream.
People go out for our ice cream and it's an event, whether you're bringing the kids back from the beach or a ball game. It's important to me that I continue the Hodgies tradition in that way.
MK Newburyport: Speaking of kids, how did yours take the news that Dad was buying an ice cream business?
Derek:
My kids were 11, 9, and 7 when we bought the stand. When they heard the news my two older kids had ear-to-ear grins, and my youngest fell right over with excitement!
Once I had kids I realized I wanted to run a business that they could be a part of. I look forward to the time when my kids are old enough to help out more around the stand. Soon the whole family will be working there in the summertime - my kids, my wife and her parents, and my mom, too. Hodgies is just the perfect fit for us.
MK Newburyport: Now that Hodgies Too is yours, do you anticipate making any big changes?
Derek: I think in general I want to maintain the concept that has worked so well. We New Englanders consume more hard-served ice cream than anyone in the world, and we're so much about tradition! That really drives me today. You can add some new things here and there to keep up with the times - different products, etc. That's something that we'll be doing. But as far major changes, that's not gonna happen. MK Newburyport: Any advice for other dadpreneurs?
Derek:
Work hard but have fun. I'm having a blast! There's nothing like working with high school and college students to keep you young at heart. It's great being a dadpreneur. You'll always struggle with work/life balance, but you're up to the challenge.
Hodgies Too is located at 136 Rabbit Road in Salisbury (map). Find Hodgies Too on Facebook for daily updates on their house-made specialty ice cream flavors.
