Walking down quiet 25th Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill can be a truly tranquil experience. Pair that with delicious ice cream from The Scoop and fresh bagels from Hidden Bagel, and you immediately feel the warmth of Spokane from head to toe.
Nestled on the corner of South Monroe Street and West 25th Avenue, The Scoop opened its doors in 2003 when Jennifer Davis had a vision to open a local ice cream shop that served her neighborhood with a smile.
“It’s like a local hub where people can say ‘let’s meet at The Scoop and go from there,” said Gerardo Garnica, general manager of The Scoop and Hidden Bagel. “I’ve definitely encountered customers that have met for business meetings, and even people who were buying our house and met their realtor here.”
Garnica has been working with the company for over nine years, having started in 2016. He sees a lot of regulars when at work, usually having bagels set aside for them in the morning as they meet at their favorite spot for bagels and coffee.
Their location in the South Hill has lended to their reputation. The business is situated in the middle of a highly populated suburban district of town, accessible by bus stops near West 26th Avenue and near Wilson elementary – where children often go with their parents after school for ice cream.
“It’s easy to get to, and the commute is really easy,” said Nathan, a part-time employee at the company. “I live about two minutes away, so it’s fast and great to not have to drive to work.”
This type of accessibility comes at a time where walkable cities are more profitable than ever. According to Smart Growth America’s 2023 “Foot Traffic Ahead” report, 19.1 percent of the nation’s GDP is produced in walkable urban areas in the 35 most dense urban centers, despite making up only 1.2 percent of U.S. land – or 6.8 percent of the population.
The Scoop/Hidden Bagel’s reputation also is bolstered by their quality when it comes to the goods they offer. The Inlander awarded Hidden Bagel the Best Bagels award of 2023, and The Scoop with Best Ice Cream of 2024. Both the ice cream and bagels on sale are made fresh and daily, giving customers a homemade feel that outcompetes the rest.
“In the mornings there’s a line out the door for bagels, and a line out the door for ice cream in the evenings, so I’d say we’re pretty successful,” Garnica said. “People drive from the North Side, the Valley, and Liberty Lake just to try our ice cream, so that also fills me with a lot of pride.”
