LANSING -- Felix Compos loves Lansing.
A native of the capital city, the business owner wants to restore the downtown to its former glory.
In the past year, Compos has opened Barberrettes, a barber shop at 410 S. Washington Square, and Coterie Purlieu, a day spa next door.
And as of this week, he has the only ice cream parlor in downtown Lansing.
Capitol City Scoop, 625 E. Michigan Ave., opened on Tuesday, serving ice cream from the MSU Dairy Store. It's an idea that came together quickly -- within the past several weeks -- as Compos plays his part in revitalizing his hometown.
"We're going to bring Lansing back," he said. "We're all in this together. We're a family."
Compos approached MSU dairy plant manager John Engstrom with his concept for Capitol City Scoop. Compos' plan and genuineness won Engstrom over.
"I really like the man. He was very honest," Engstrom said. "People really want our product. I really like the Michigan Avenue location, too."
Capitol City Scoop is just the third ice cream parlor the MSU Dairy Store has agreed to let sell its products. The first was Mason's Daily Scoop Ice Cream Shoppe, followed by the Sinclair Grill in Webberville. Both have been "very successful," Engstrom said.
The difficulty is the Dairy Store doesn't want to partner with a location too close or too far away, Engstrom said. Capitol City Scoop was "just natural" to do business with, he added.
Ruthann Jorgensen, Compos' fiancee and co-owner, said their partnership with the Dairy Store is a win-win.
"They've been wonderful to work with," she said. "We're trying to get MSU more into the downtown."
Compos, whose family has long been involved with MSU, said he wanted to make apparent his new store's connection with the university. That's where the logo comes in: framed with an ice cream cone and the dome of the state Capitol, the "S" in "Capitol City Scoop" is a green block "S," like the logo of MSU.
Compos remembers the Lansing of his youth, walking around a vibrant downtown andvshopping at the Arbaugh. His vision for the capital is a transformation into its former self: a bustling metropolis at the heart of Michigan.
"Everyone, I think, can agree that downtown was kind of getting left alone, but now it's definitely being revitalized," Jorgensen said. "We want to bring something that's going to stay and just promote business and attract people downtown."
Capitol City Scoop is open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but will stay open later on nights coinciding with Lansing Lugnuts baseball games and events like Common Ground. The shop serves several varieties of MSU Dairy Store ice cream already and plans to expand to nearly two dozen flavors. It also sells Dairy Store cheese.
Jorgensen said Capitol City Scoop will offer different menu items in the winter months.
The Dairy Store doesn't just partner with anyone, Engstrom said.
"Every week I get requests," he said. "But (Compos) should have a really good one there. He's got a great location."
Capitol City Scoop has scheduled a grand opening for Friday, June 28.
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