HAMPTON -- On May 23, Maxine Kiser opened 'Ice Cream Dreams,' a business she had dreamed about for a long time. With much help from her sister Trina Lorigan, they made ready a quaint but well equipped ice cream stand. "It hasn't been easy," said sister Trina, we laid linoleum, scrubbed and painted every inch of the building which is at 852 Lafayette, across from First National Bank of Portsmouth. Maxine even rented a cow suit to welcome customers. Both of the sisters have been in the food service business for a long time and know how to treat the customer. Last year Maxine leased an ice cream truck to tour the neighborhoods and learn the ice cream business.

Business has steadily improved, "We have several customers who come here every day," they said. They offer a wide variety of flavors of regular ice cream, yogurt, sherbert and a very good tasting no fat, no sugar ice cream which is ideal for diabetics or those on restricted diets.

You can't rest on your laurels, Maxine is looking to the fall when she plans to serve gourmet coffee, bagels, muffins and possibly other light fare. The ice cream sold in the shop comes exclusively from Shain's, a family farm in Maine. The quality and the taste is good and consistent and that is what the shop will favor across the board. It will be a top blend of coffee and Bagelry bagels from Portsmouth when fall comes around.

It has been hoped that they could provide a soft serve ice cream this year but the start up of the business has put that off until next summer. Without question, that favorite will be available by then.

Watch for the new message sign out front and turn into help welcome another new Hampton business to Route 1.