Saturday, April 9, marks the grand opening of a new Southern Pines eatery, Scruton Brother’s Ice Cream. For the first time, this family-run restaurant will be opening its doors and welcoming Moore County friends for one-of-a-kind treats with a twist.
Scruton Brother’s Ice Cream will be serving traditional Coney Island-style treats, including Coney dogs, shakes, floats, flurries, and more. The brothers found inspiration in the coastlines of New Hampshire and the lakes of Michigan and are eager to bring these treats all the way home to the Sandhills.
The Scruton brothers themselves are 18-year-old Kiden and 15-year-old Kolby. Together, the brothers co-manage and co-own the restaurant alongside their mom and dad, Kimberly and Denny Scruton.
What makes Scruton Brother’s Ice Cream truly unique, however, is that nearly every single item on the menu has an allergy-friendly equivalent available to order. The older of the Scruton brothers, Kiden, has many common food allergies, so it has always been a challenge for him to find allergy-free versions of the foods he loves. As a result, the Scrutons worked out an allergy-free menu, which includes vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options.
Kiden explained that their inspiration initially came from a restaurant near his mom’s hometown in Michigan. The family was surprised by how many items on the menu were available allergy-free, and Kiden realized there was a need for that level of care and service in Moore County. Together, the Pinehurst family brainstormed the best way to go about making their dream a reality.
Younger brother Kolby demands high-quality ingredients and has ensured that all ingredients are up to his high standards, while Kiden has double and triple-checked that all of the menu items and toppings are also available in allergy-friendly options. Even the doggy menu comes with allergy-free equivalents for furry family members with allergies and sensitive stomachs.
“Definitely try the flurries!” suggested Kolby. “Everything on the menu is good, but the flurries are really good.” It was unanimous that the cookie dough flurries are a family favorite.
The care and energy they put into the food itself isn’t the only way the Scruton brothers are looking out for the community. The brothers came up with the idea for the Care Project, where every month they will be donating a portion of their proceeds to a different local organization.
“We love this area, we really do,” said co-owner and mother Kimberly Scruton. “They care about this community and wanted to find a way to give back, so they came up with the Care Project.”
When they’re not actively running their family business, the brothers are hard at work elsewhere. Both Kiden and Kolby are students at Pinecrest, and Kiden additionally attends Sandhills Community College. The brothers are both athletes; Kiden plays basketball while Kiden plays golf.
“We’re so excited to open,” declared Kiden. “Our food’s going to be delicious and allergy-free, and we’re very excited to provide the community with this. We hope you love it as much as we do.”
For more information on Scruton Brother’s Ice Cream, located at 225 W. Morganton Road, please visit www.scrutonbrothersicecream.com or call 910-725-0308.
Feature photo: Kiden Scruton (left) and Kolby Scruton.
~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Abegail Murphy.
