Kirkwood Avenue has long been a Bloomington landmark, hosting local restaurants, bars, clothing shops and, of course, ice cream. But Jiffy Treet won't be part of Kirkwood's scene for much longer.
Jiffy Treet, which has been serving ice cream on Kirkwood for 19 years, is set to close its doors at the beginning of December, Jiffy Treet owner Hartzell Martel said. The shop's lease has ended, and renewing it is not an option, Martel said, because the building is going to be torn down by Tartan Realty Group of Chicago, who bought the building and land this year.
Martel has been Kirkwood Jiffy Treet's owner for 14 years and prides his shop on "good customer service and good ice cream," he said. The pin-striped '50s style ice cream parlor has long been a part of Kirkwood's landscape and was previously a Baskin-Robbins, Martel said. Other Bloomington Jiffy Treets will remain open, and Martell hopes to relocate his store as soon as they find a new location somewhere downtown.