BUSINESS MATTERS
Lake Martin Creamery
L
ake Martin Creamery at the intersection of state Route 49 and county Road 34, was meant to be, according to owners Ellen and Dennis Godfrey. They were both in the corporate world until Ellen Godfrey retired from United Health Care. Then, when COVID-19 hit two years ago, Dennis was offered early retirement from Verizon Wireless. They had lots of thoughts about what to do next. “One idea kept on floating back,” Godfrey said. “We need ice cream at the lake.” It was prompted by kids and grandkids visiting the couple at The 10 Lake Martin Living
Village. One day, they all were at a fast food establishment in Auburn that featured hamburgers. “But they kept making milk shakes and more milk shakes. So, we thought, ice cream is not a stupid idea. We felt if this is what the Lord wanted us to do, He would open doors,” she said. The first plan called for an ice cream truck. There were none in Alabama, so they contacted a franchiser and found a truck for sale. COVID hit, and they heard no more about the truck. “Next, we drove all around the lake to see where an ice cream shop might fit. Peeped in the windows of old Jim’s Pharmacy. Good building and location until we called the realtor. It was already taken. The very next day the phone rang. Building was now available. We took it on the spot,” explained Godfrey. Next, they hoped to move to the area fulltime but only if they could sell their Birmingham home. “It hit multiple listing and within three hours – sold.”
