The Citizen

AUBURN - Poppy's ice cream might be a local favorite, but that doesn't make it any easier to sell it in the dead of winter. To keep customers coming to the Mattie Street ice cream parlor, owners Mark and Amy Locastro have expanded the menu beyond the freezer.

“Last year our customers were constantly asking for food,” Mark said. “It's necessary for the business to survive.”

Having been open for one year at the location of the old Mattie Street Dairy, Mark said after overcoming any obstacles to get the dessert business running smoothly, they headed into the project of adding a full menu basically blind.

“This is new for us,” Mark said. “We're bound to make mistakes, but in a couple of weeks, we'll have it down pat.”

Having only served food for just more than one week, the menu seems to be a hit, drawing in families from the neighborhood as well as regulars, he said.

When one regular heard Poppy's was going to start serving food, Mark said he arrived at 6 a.m. when the restaurant opened to find the man already sitting at the counter when he showed up.

Having been told by his cook's husband and wife duo, Diane and Dana Woodward, that people love breakfast, the Locastros decided to add early morning favorites to the menu to hopefully create the atmosphere where people can meet and drink coffee, Mark said.

“You name it; we have it,” Mark continued. “Homemade waffles are coming soon. And the french toast is the best I ever had.”

Getting to this point, however, involved a lot more than just making up a menu and serving food. A brand new kitchen was built over part of the parking lot behind the building to get things cooking.

“There are a million things that you have to think about,” Mark said. “Everything down to the maple syrup.”

To get the operation up and running, Mark said he's had some much-appreciated help from other restaurants around Auburn. Hunter's Dinerant owner Tracey Keim provided Mark and Amy with a full list of where to purchase anything and everything to have a successful food business.

On the third night of food service, Poppy's was so crowded that they ran out of chicken tenders. The owner of Smokey's restaurant, Joe Catalfano, told Mark to come up and get what he needed to hold them over for the night.

“What's really cool is there is a sense of helping each other out and community,” Mark said.

Keeping that sense of community is important to the success of Poppy's, Mark said. He envisions the '50s style - with an original 1954 jukebox and records to boot - as a family-friendly place that “people can go to movies and stop by afterward for a malt.”

The employees keep this atmosphere alive, he added. They are able to look at someone and know what they'll have before the even order. Sue Valentino has been one of these people, who Mark said he attributes the success of the business.

“I love the '50s,” Mark said. “This is a place to come and have good clean fun.”

Every Friday, the restaurant will serve a fish special, throughout the rest of the week there is a

new soup special every day to complement the burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and salads. A children's menu is also available for children under 12.

And don't worry, Poppy's dessert menu hasn't changed. So after filling up, top of the dining experience with one of its famous milkshakes, homemade Italian ice or ice cream sundaes - with a cherry on top.

Staff writer Laura Boyce may be reached at 253-5311 ext. 236 or laura.boyce@lee.net

If you go

What: Poppy's at Mattie Street Dairy

When: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day

Where: 20 Mattie St., Auburn

For details: Call 258-7328