UP THAT HILL

by CARLY SIMPSON

When chris and victoria mekas first opened Hill Top Soda Shoppe in 2005, the couple could often be found in their Benzonia ice cream kitchen until 3 a.m., sautéing pecans in butter and salt, toasting organic coconut and swirling peanut butter through rich chocolate ice cream. It was a nonstop churn at the summit of South Street, keeping up with the growing demand for their homemade scoops.

Today, Hill Top Soda Shoppe is a year-round destination. For many vacationers, it’s their first stop on a trip North; for locals, it’s their go-to spot for a morning coffee and doughnuts, baked fresh each day. Victoria’s mom now helps in the kitchen, filling endless tubs with the ever-popular butter pecan and decadent flavors like salted caramel, minty chip and strawberry—exclusively made with Michigan berries.

“Nothing beats Michigan strawberries,” Victoria says. “We fill our freezers each June with plump berries from Grossnickle Farms in Kaleva so we can make it all year—or until it sells out.”

The Mekas keep things as local as possible, sourcing their cherries from Putney’s in Benzonia, blueberries from Smeltzers in Frankfort, peaches from Beeman’s in Onekama and milk and cream from Country Dairy in New Era. Even the illustrated pint labels pay homage to the region, showing off local icons like Point Betsie Lighthouse, the Garden Theater and Cherry Bowl Drive-In.

The Inside Scoop: Hill Top Soda Shoppe shares a space with Victoria’s Floral Design (which the Mekas also own, in addition to Perks coffee shop and Lynn & Perin Mercantile in Frankfort). Yes, there are lush bouquets and houseplants. It’s also an unexpected Christmas wonderland filled to the brim all year long with thousands of ornaments—find classic snowmen and reindeer, shimmery mermaids, chubby corgis and, of course, a few tempting ice cream cones.

Hill Top Soda Shoppe

7117 South St., Benzonia hilltopsodashoppe.com