Don Blest grew up in rural Sullivan County, spent years in Plymouth Township, and served in the Marines. His wife Beth ran a cleaning business with him for more than 25 years. None of that screams "ice cream shop owner." But since September 2017, the couple has been scooping small-batch, homemade ice cream out of a storefront that bears the name of their late American bulldog.

Ava's Ice Cream and Water Ice, at 1 W. Mount Kirk Ave. in Trooper (19403), has become a neighborhood fixture for adventurous flavors, pup cups, and a people-first philosophy spelled out on the back of every staff shirt: "We are not in the ice cream business serving people. We are in the people business serving ice cream."

From cleaning business to batch freezer

The origin story is pure impulse. Don told the Times Herald that he and Beth already had a batch freezer at home and were making ice cream for friends and family when they stopped for lunch at Bella Rosy pizza in Collegeville and noticed the adjacent space was for rent. It had been a yogurt shop, so the essential equipment was already there.

"We decided to jump in head first," Blest said. "We signed the lease in July 2017, put a few months of sweat equity into the space and opened up in September 2017."

That first location was on Germantown Pike in Evansburg. Around 2021, the Blests moved to their current Trooper spot in a shopping center next to Salter's Fireplaces.

Flavors that keep growing

Don makes every batch himself and tastes each one. Beth tastes them too and creates her own additions. The menu never shrinks, Blest said, because Beth adds flavors but doesn't take any off.

Best sellers include homemade vanilla, Oreo Cookies and Cream, Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Tandy Take, Butterscotch Krimpet, and Holy Cannoli. The shop also stocks vegan options and a sugar-free butter pecan.

Then there are the wild cards. Raspberry Habanero Truffle is a staple now, but Blest's first attempt "tasted like hot wing sauce," he told the Times Herald. Black Licorice came about after a single customer requested it for roughly two years. It's become one of Beth's favorites and a draw for licorice lovers who can't find it elsewhere.

Dogs welcome, Marines forever

The shop's namesake, Ava, was the Blests' American bulldog who loved Don's homemade vanilla. Her puppy photo is the logo. The couple now shares their home with a St. Bernard named Mac and an Old English Bulldog named Magnolia.

Blest corrects anyone who calls him an "ex-Marine." Once a Marine, always a Marine, he says. By day, he drives non-emergency wheelchair transport for Shannondell Rehabilitation in Audubon. Off the clock, he's behind the counter.

Ava's is open Monday through Thursday, 2–9 p.m.; Friday, 2–9:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon–9:30 p.m. Outdoor seating fits up to eight. The shop offers a mobile app for ordering ahead and a loyalty rewards program.

The dogs, Blest said, are always welcome. "We love it when the dogs come by and get their pup cups, especially when they bring their owners by for a treat."