There is no need to mourn - Scoops DeVille has not disappeared completely.
Rather, it has been transformed into Penn Student Agencies' newest business venture, Reel Scoops.
The shop will offer DVD rentals and ice cream and will open Aug. 20 at the former Scoops DeVille location in Houston Hall. The previous site of the Video Vault, which is closing, will be taken over by Einstein Bro.'s Bagels.
Reel Scoops is completely student-run and will be hosting a grand opening party with free ice cream from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on. Sept. 3, the first day of classes.
PSA general manager Aviva Hirschfeld said the idea for Reel Scoops began when they heard that Einstein Bro.'s Bagels was looking to expand their space.
Einstein Bro.'s Bagels was looking to make way for an express line and to offer more seating and services for the upcoming year, said vice provost for University life facilities director Tom Hauber. The two businesses - Video Vault and Einstein Bro.'s Bagels - came to a mutual agreement earlier this year, he added.
At the same time, Scoops DeVille left Houston Market this summer to "focus on its Center-City location," said College senior and manager of Reel Scoops Sarah Dickerson.
Hirschfeld said PSA was "pretty attached to the video side" of Houston Hall's former utilities and did not want to abandon the service. So they decided to utilize the empty space - already outfitted with ice cream equipment - to "streamline the two businesses" of ice cream and DVD rentals.
Dickerson said she is especially excited about the variety of flavors and the quality of ice cream that the shop will offer.
According to Hirschfeld, the ice cream is locally produced at dairy farms in Bucks County and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Hirschfeld noted that like William's Café, another PSA venture located in William's Hall, the local products that Real Scoops will use "really appeal to Penn students." She added that PSA is always happy to support local businesses.
While waiting for service, students will be able browse the movie selection through a reference binder or search for a specific title through a computer kiosk. So far, the DVD selection is the same as Video Vault's, but Reel Scoops has plans to update its collection.
Reel Scoops expressed plans to deliver DVDs, as well as ice cream and ice cream cakes for parties and birthdays, starting in spring 2009.
Reel Scoops - which will accept bursar, PennCash, credit, and cash - is currently looking to hire to expand their staff for the school year. Information can be found on pennstudentagencies.com.
Dickerson said that Reel Scoops will wait to do most of its publicizing in the fall, but for now she believes that business will spread through "good word of mouth."
For now, Hirschfeld anticipates that Reel Scoops will be a "great venture" for PSA, and also a great addition to Penn's campus "for students, staff and even the hospital across the street."
