Nokomis Groves Closing Retail Store, but Keeping Ice Cream Stand Open
When was the last time, you had some of this Ice Cream? It's been way too long for me.. And if you haven't had it, you need to try it.
Some Sad and Good News here... Sandra Henderson, one of the owners of the 71-year-old orange grove revealed the news in a post on Facebook this week (10/13/20). link below... .
She said that while the fruit sales store will not open, the business has contracted with a separate business to fulfill gift fruit shipping orders by phone and through their website: nokomisgroves.com ... and that there would be more details coming at a later date.
She also wrote... “The best news is that our beloved and famous ice cream department remains open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. every day except for major holidays, and severe weather”.
Here is her full note and a link to see it on Facebook...
Sandra Henderson
Nokomis Groves, Inc.
October 2020
Dear Friends,
A long time tradition has been when we would plan our gift catalog for the coming shipping season was to include a ‘Dear Friends’ letter informing our customers of what they might expect in the coming season. This letter comes bittersweet as we announce that after 71 years, Nokomis Groves will not be re-opening our retail fruit store. As to our shipping program, we have engaged a highly reliable company to fulfill your gift fruit shipping needs. They will be representing us in full this season and will take your orders on the phone, the details of which will be posted at a later time.
The BEST NEWS is that our beloved and famous ice cream department remains open as usual from 11 am-6 pm every day except for major holidays, and severe weather. Our luscious orange vanilla swirl is our most popular, but many fans also love our lime, chocolate and pineapple flavors.
The citrus business in the State of Florida as you may know has battled serious production issues for many years and we feel our groves are not up to the standards that our customers expect from us. We take enormous pride in being the third generation to take up the legacy and successfully managing our part. We know our grandparents Perry and Annie Lee Hayes, and our parents Gene and Nadine Henderson would be very proud of our successes and how we met and faced the many challenges placed before us in the citrus industry.
We give thanks to all our new and longtime loyal customers for your support and business. We have been told that the top two spots to go to in the Nokomis/Venice area are to watch a sunset, and visit Nokomis Groves.
Many of our winter customers tell us Nokomis Groves is their first stop when they arrive back in Florida and the last place on their way home. It has been our honor to serve you.
We hope one day many of you will share fond memories of Nokomis Groves such as these:
· How the scent of orange blossoms wafted through the air every spring.
· Opening day each fall with the anticipation of fresh squeezed orange juice, tasty Florida made citrus marmalades and candies, and a variety of Florida honey.
· A sample of fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice was only a nickel and it was for 71 years. Blossom thanks you.
· People asking, ‘What are those giant trees with the large red flower?’ “It’s a Bombax”.
· The smell of oranges in our store, watching fresh picked fruit being cleaned, sorted and gift boxes being packed and sent throughout the US and Canada.
· Meeting with old friends and making new friends on the front porch eating ice cream.
Respectfully,
Brenda and David Kemerer Sandra Henderson
Laura Henderson Joanna Pal
Nokomis Groves - 111 S. Albee Farm Road, Nokomis, FL 34275
Read and Comment on the Facebook Post here:
https://www.facebook.com/nokomisgroves/community/?ref=page_internal