New Ice Cream Shop Coming to Portland, Maine This Summer

‘Tis the season for ice cream. Yes, even now there are many ice cream shops already serving the public. Of course, ice cream season won’t be in full swing until after Memorial Day.

Portland is an interesting city in that, despite the size, there are relatively few places to enjoy a cone or a sundae.

Aside from a couple of gelato spots, a shaved ice shop, and a few shops that also have gifts and other confections, Portland only has only a small handful of shops dedicated to ice cream.

One of those is Beals with two locations, one on Moulton Street and the other on Veranda Street. Then of course there’s Lib’s Dairy Treats on Auburn Street, Mount Desert Island Ice Cream on exchange street, Sammy’s Scoops on Ocean Avenue, and finally Sticky Sweet on Cumberland Avenue which features dairy-free plant-based ice cream. But there is a big hole when it comes to Portland’s Nason’s Corner on outer Brighton Avenue. That is, until this summer.

The old Xtramart/Shell gas station has been an eyesore on Brighton Ave between Essex Street and Dennett Street for several years. New life is set to move in this summer and they’re bringing the goods.

According to Portland Food Map, the shop is called Twin Swirls named after owner Sarah Palmer’s twin girls. Twin Swirls will have everything; hard and soft serve, milkshakes, sundaes, and even coffee.

It will take some elbow grease before doors open, but they are well on their way. As previously mentioned the building has been vacant for quite some time and according to the Twin Swirls Instagram it’s, “Dirty, smelly, yucky.”

And now “the dirty and yucky removed”. Probably the smell too.

Renovations are underway. Be sure to follow the Twin Swirls adventure by following them on Instagram here. You’ll be among the first to know when they officially open for business!