DUNEDIN, FL — Just in time for hot summer days, Sunset Smoothies and Ice Cream is bringing some chill to Dunedin to ensure that residents keep their cool.
The new shop at 2606 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, is the vision of Dunedin/Palm Harbor natives Dana Serrabella and Jessica Nash.
As the mother of two sons, Serrabella is well aware of the popularity of ice cream and frozen drinks year-round in Florida. She approached Nash in March 2021 with the idea of opening a shop that not only served all-time favorite ice cream treats, but also offered healthy alternatives.
Nash said she jumped at the chance to partner with Serrabella in a business.
"We've been open since Feb. 9 but never had a chance to throw a party," Nash said. "So we're hosting our official grand opening on May 4 all day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m."
Offering 33 flavors of hard-packed ice cream in cups, cones and even on top of protein waffles, Sunset Smoothies and Ice Cream also features milk shakes, malts, root beer floats, sundaes, banana splits and coffee drinks.
Toppings include Heath bars, chocolate chunks, Reese's, toasted coconut, gummy bears, Mini M&Ms, peanuts, pecans, chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream, hot fudge, hot caramel, strawberry sauce and pineapple sauce.
And there's no reason for those watching their carb or calorie intake or with dietary restrictions or food allergies to deny themselves a frozen sweet treat on a hot summer's day.
The shop also serves dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options as well as protein shakes, fruit smoothies, energy drinks and healthy add-ons including spirulina, beet root powder, peanut butter powder, powdered greens, honey, egg whites, collagen and mango fat burner.
Among the smoothies offered at the shop is the Blue Jay in honor of Dunedin's spring training team, the Toronto Blue Jays, made with bananas, pineapple, spirulina, honey, pineapple juice and coconut milk. Also popular are the Green Gladiator, made with mango, pineapple, greens, spinach and orange juice, and the Purple Paradise with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, beet powder and coconut milk.
In addition to coconut milk, the shop offers vanilla and chocolate almond milk and oat milk.
During the grand opening, the shop will be raffling off prizes, giving out free koozies to the first 50 customers and offering free face painting from 6 to 8 p.m.
In addition, Nash and Serrabella will kick off their partnership with the Backpack Lady Project, donating 10 percent of all sales to the organization that collects backpacks and school supplies for children in Pinellas County elementary schools.
The Dunedin nonprofit was started by Rob Ditro in 2011 after the death of his mother, Phyllis. It wasn't until his mother died that Ditro learned she'd been secretly donating backpacks to a local school for years. Ditro decided to carry on her mission, creating The Backpack Lady Project. To date, the organization has distributed more than 13,000 backpacks.
To check out Sunset Smoothie and Ice Cream's complete offerings, click here.