On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of The Shack of Sanibel with an onsite ribbon cutting. The frozen custard shop first opened its doors on May 25 at 1219 Periwinkle Way.
Chuck and Lisa Whitman built and own The Shack, which is managed by the husband-and-wife team of Hana and Dan St. Gean along with Lynn Hoops. It serves only frozen custard made fresh daylong daily in three flavors by the cup or cone – vanilla, chocolate, and the daily special. Customers can also create their own flavor, known as The Shackit, by blending their choice of toppings with frozen custard.
The eatery is also known for its Sanddollars – frozen custard sandwiched between two freshly baked cookies – and more than 50 flavors of pints to go.
“The Whitmans are passionate about sharing what makes their frozen dessert so different and unique,” said Hoops. “It’s all about the process and the products. Every single day we start with fresh product; we never use leftovers from a previous day.”
Customers can also customize their own sundaes, plus The Shack serve shakes, floats (root beer and orange), and special treats for the kids.
“We joined the chamber of commerce to work with others in the community to promote and support our beautiful, special islands of Sanibel and Captiva,” said Hoops. “We are passionate about bringing a fun experience to all of our customers of every age. The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is always working hard to promote a healthy island for businesses, residents, and visitors. We believe our product, staff, and customer service will add to the framework the chamber has created.”
“In a short time, The Shack has become an integral part of the island community,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “Besides endearing themselves through their irresistible taste treats, The Shack team supports SCCF, F.I.S.H., Community Housing & Resources, The Sanibel School, the Baileys-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Historical Village, and the Sanibel Community Church.” Currently, The Shack is running its “12 Days of Giving” promotion, where it donates a percentage of daily sales to a different charitable organization for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas Day.
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website sanibel-captiva.org receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact Landen Drake, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or [email protected].
