Dairy Cream reopens to success, support

Annabelle Robertson / The Item Sharonda Alston stopped by the Dairy Cream with D.J. Milton, a friend's son, to get ice cream in a show of support for the newly reopened business.

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Rebuilding the Dairy Cream (video)

By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON
Item Staff Writer
arobertson@theitem.com

“When Satan meant for evil, God has used for good.”

That's what Dairy Cream owner Nevin Boykin, 35, is proclaiming after opening his doors on Tuesday for the second time in less than a month. The ice cream parlor and snack shop, which originally opened in 1949, reopened again on May 22, after Boykin purchased it and poured more than $25,000 of personal savings into the effort.

A few hours later, it was all up in flames. A suspicious fire was discovered about 2 a.m. the next morning, and damage was so extensive that Boykin had to shut down operations. Worse still, a friend was charged with the crime several days later.

But now, the Sumter icon is open once again. And thanks to the community, sales are brisk.

“It's been non-stop all day — ever since we opened about 2:30 this afternoon. Just non-stop,” said Boykin, as sweat poured down his face in the early evening heat. “I don't know what to say. I'm just so blessed.”

Manning the grill, Boykin roved back and forth to the front window serving burgers, sausage and hot dogs, as a huge grin lit his face. A group of people sat eating and chatting outside the tiny white building — now trimmed in blue. And customer after customer kept stepping up to the window, placing orders.

Sharonda Alston, 22, stopped in with a friend's son, D.J. Milton, 1, for a vanilla cone and a banana split.

“I seen it was open,” she said. “And I'd heard about the fire. So I decided to come.”

Others expressed similar sentiments, insisting that they wanted to come out and support Dairy Cream.

Boykin credits the speedy re-opening with hard work and long hours from friends and family, as well as the generosity of local contractors.

“We were there every day from 6 in the morning till 8 at night,” he said.

The same contractors who had done the work the first time came around a second time, too. Some didn't charge for the work. Others, said Boykin, offered payment plans.

Boykin had not yet finalized an insurance policy at the time of the fire, so he had no insurance on the business. But the building's owner, Mary Wallace, did have insurance on the structure. That helped repair the shop's paint, windows and floors.

Boykin's friend of five years, Lewis Jenkins, Jr., was charged with second-degree arson on May 27. He is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court after the next session begins on July 20.

Asked about his feelings toward Jenkins, Boykin said simply, “I'm praying for him. That's my take. Maybe he'll find God.”

Until then, Boykin and his crew will be working. Sales were just as good, as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, he said.

“It has been corrected, and I'm moving on,” said Boykin. “We're back, bigger than ever. And I give all the credit to God.”

Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at arobertson@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.