A.C. Petersen's Is Now a Hallmark of Summer in Old Lyme

Also reported by The Lymes Patch Editor Jayne Keedle.

Old Lyme residents Margaret and Garry Legein recently sold Hallmark Drive-In, the popular ice cream shop at 113 Shore Road in Old Lyme which has been a summer favorite for generations. Hallmark even appears, although by the name "Paradise Ice Cream" in several of New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice's novels.

Patch was curious as to what the new buyers, a newly-formed company in West Hartford going by "113 Shore Road LLC" had in mind for the nearly century-old ice cream shop.

It turns out that the new owner is Catherine Denton – an old hand when it comes to running ice cream establishments. She currently owns another popular and long-standing ice cream shop – A.C. Petersen Farms in West Hartford. 

"When I looked at Hallmark for purchase, I was amazed how similar our operations are," Denton wrote in an email to Patch. "We serve the same quality ice cream, and have a similar menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, fried seafood and lobster rolls. In addition to our ice cream, our signature is our hand-whipped heavy cream and our hot fudge topping."

Not only are the menus similar, Denton said, but so are the operations. "Both businesses are 100-year-old companies and icons in their community."

Denton said that she was not looking to expand, but "this opportunity was brought to me and it was a good fit." 
  
A cleaning crew was hard at work last week, scrubbing everything down inside the building. A crew of painters arrived on Wednesday to spruce up the exterior.  

Though the menu items will remain largely the same, there's one thing that will change, and that's the name. The new store will be known as A.C. Petersen Drive-in. 

Denton knows that many from the Hartford County area have summer homes in the area, and are already familiar with the A.C. Petersen name.

Denton said she hopes that the store will be ready to open for the season on May 15.

"We are very excited about this location and becoming part of the Old Lyme community," Denton said. 

One of the West Hartford restaurant managers, Ted Stolzenberg, will manage the A.C. Petersen Drive-In, and Denton's brother-in-law, James Denton, will also work there, she said.

The store will be hiring, too. Catherine Denton said the best way for people to apply is to stop by and fill out an application package.