ABOVE: The Spitzer Family and Elin Scheppman serve ice cream Friday evening at Indulge & Co. on Don town Plaza in Fairmont. The ice cream is a new, seasonal offering for the store.

FAIRMONT — Indulge & Co., a catchall business on Downtown Plaza in Fairmont that offers a variety of services from hair, tanning and facials to permanent makeup and retail sales, has recently added another offering: ice cream. The walk-up window, used for the store’s coffee shop, now has ice cream coming out of it on weekend evenings.

Laura Spitzer, owner of Indulge & Co. and Indulge Salon and Spa, has a team of about 30 individuals throughout her businesses. Now, her husband, Tom, and their three children, Kennedy, Carter and Cecilia Spitzer assist with the Indulge and Co. ice cream sales.

This is their first year executing the ice cream business into action, which began in June and will follow until Labor Day. The family hopes the ice cream business will continue to return annually for the summer seasons.

Spitzer said that after they purchased the building they discovered a laundromat in the upstairs apartment and Kennedy, Carter, and Cecilia wanted to keep the spare coins that were abandoned in the area. Spitzer told her children they couldn’t simply take it, but they could earn it by assisting her and working around the shop.

After saving the needed funds, Spitzer explained she expected the children to spend the money they earned on an item or vacation. Instead, the three children pursued their ambitions and used the money to begin a business of their very own, an approachable ice cream parlor.

“I remember going home, and the kids were sitting down ready to have a meeting with me,” Spitzer recalled with a laugh.

She explained that her children planned for this ice cream shop one year and a half before its official grand opening this previous June.

“They’re interested and very diligent,” Spitzer said.

She believes that the ice cream business is a teachable service project for the children.

“Some nights are busy, some nights aren’t. When the sun is shining, people come. They need to understand how it works because it’s a licensed facility,” Spitzer noted.

She described that the children have responsibilities to execute on the days they are helping with the shop or selling ice cream, such as clean-up and more shop care.

The Indulge ice cream business currently partners with an ice cream business based in Wisconsin.

While fulfilling the ice cream dream, the Spitzer children pledge to donate 10 percent of their earnings towards the Martin County Humane Society and the adoptable animals in its care. Their donations will help the Humane Society provide loving forever homes and essentials to rehabilitate and keep pets healthy during their stay. Spitzer said the children chose the non-profit organization by themselves, and are excited to help the selected non-profit’s cause.

“It’s so great for the kids to do this,” Spitzer said.

In May of 2022, Spitzer opened Indulge & Company and a spa based around health and further relaxation alongside Indulge Salon and Spa. Spitzer commented the Indulge businesses strive to keep evolving.

“You need to find your bits of normal and happiness,” Spitzer said. Having the business, her team, and the unwavering love from her family became the ‘special normal’ amid difficult circumstances for Spitzer which included losing her daughter Emmalyne due to health complications in 2019.

Spitzer conveyed that her business has evolved tremendously since it began, adding to the ‘special normalcy’. She has formed a familial bond with both patrons and workers. Since the ice cream business began, it’s opened up for significant community involvement.

“It’s like Hallmark. Everyone seems to be happy, and we’re glad we can give that to others. It’s nice to give back after people helped us,” said Spitzer.

Since June it’s been open from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday through Sunday and it’s proven to be popular with the community, which the family is happy about.

“The kids are stoked,” Spitzer said. “It’s fun to watch.”