You have a dog, hungry kids, and little money. Where is the best place to entertain your dog and kids, all with a low budget? Look no further than PaPa Jim’s, a small, outdoor ice cream shop located in Troy on Rt. 15, next to the Troy Deli and the post office. Run by Jim Toms and his wife, Ann, this fully-functioning ice cream shop is pet-friendly, child-friendly, and wallet-friendly, and boasts a large and delicious variety of frozen desserts.

Prior to opening PaPa Jim’s, Toms worked 40 years in the food service business at Oakland School before losing his job during the heart of the recession. After two years of job searching, he took the plunge and opened the ice cream shop which has now been open for over two years. Toms personally invented three of the menu items—and don’t try to copy them, because they’re copyrighted— namely, the Arctic Blast, the Avalanche, and the Polar Bear. The Arctic Blast features your choice of soft-serve ice cream, blended to perfection with your choice of two popular delicious candies and cookies ranging from Oreo’s to Reese’s. The Polar Bear includes a warm, homemade brownie, topped with smooth vanilla ice cream and two M&M’s for eyes. “I get the Polar Bear every time and I never get tired of it. I love PaPa Jim’s because it’s such a cool place to hang out. Also it’s close and local,” said FCHS freshman Meredith Albright.

The menu has homemade signature items, like cobblers, including a “Fluco cobbler” made with peaches. PaPa Jim’s also offers wicked banana splits, sundaes, and malt shakes. Their best-selling item—accounting for 65% of all sales—is the milkshakes, which you can personalize by choosing from many different flavors. Toms says his personal favorite is the black raspberry.
If you want to stay light on the sweets, you might want to check out the garden behind the shop. Toms is an avid gardener and sells over 100 plants and vegetables.
PaPa Jim’s offers welcoming amenities, such as a shelter area with picnic benches to enjoy your ice cream. PaPa Jim’s is also exceptionally kid and pet-friendly. “We went to PaPa Jim’s to treat the kids, and they loved it. It’s cheap and it’s a nice way to support a great local business. I also got the black raspberry ice cream and it was really good. I would definitely go back,” said FCHS teacher Mitchell Pace. PaPa Jim’s offers a “Birthday Club” for kids under 12, which gives them a complimentary item on their birthday. You can even bring your dog to PaPa Jim’s for a special “Pup Cup,” which is a cup filled with whipped cream and dog treats.
PaPa Jim’s stays open throughout the whole year, but limits its hours in the winter. They open at noon in the summer, and often times there are people waiting for them to open. “In the future, I’d like to expand into some food, including hot dogs, fries, and homemade soups,” said Toms. So hurry up and get out to PaPa Jim’s to savor the perfect ice cream—and then don’t forget to like them on Facebook to spread the word.