- Taggarts Ice Cream re-opens for carryout a day after car crashes into dining room.
- Shop announces building is intact.
- Owners thank fans for their love and support.
- Full menu being offered during regular hours.
- Onsite dining still offered at Kennedy’s Bar-B-Que, which is under same ownership.
This story was updated to add new information.
CANTON ‒ Taggarts Ice Cream plans to remain open for carryout orders after a motorist crashed a stolen car into the dining room.
“Great news!,” the shop posted Tuesday on its Facebook page. “The building is intact!”
It said the store will be carryout only until the dining room reopens.
Taggarts will continue operating during normal hours, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. The kitchen will close half an hour before store closing.
The full menu is available, said owner Mindy Mullaly.
Onsite dining is still offered at Kennedy’s Bar-B-Que, 1420 Seventh St. NW, which is under same ownership. Kennedy’s is closed on Sundays.
Tuesday’s Facebook post from Taggarts ended with a message for the many people who made comments about the shop following Monday’s crash, which forced it to close temporarily.
“Thank you all for your love and support!” the shop’s post said.
Fleeing car thief:Car plows into Canton favorite Taggarts Ice Cream, causing heavy building damage
Taggarts restoration does not have timetable yet
Mullaly said she does not know when the dining room will open again. On Tuesday, debris was being removed. The restoration work can be planned after the area is cleared. Heavy tarps have been hung to keep dust from the wreckage from entering the areas that are still in use.
She believes the crash ruined at least seven booths and five to six sets of tables and chairs. She hopes to preserve as many pieces of the old furniture as possible because many bear personal carvings made by patrons.
“I know everyone’s concerned about the tabletops with all of the initials in them,” Mullaly said. “We’re saving those as much as we can. If I can’t use them as a table, I’m going to use them for something in the store as display or something. But they’re not going anywhere,” Mullaly said.
She does not believe she will be able to salvage the booths that were built by former owner Chuck Hess.
“They’re splintered. It’s heartbreaking, but I don’t think that we can restore them. But we’re going to have them built exactly the same.”
She said her insurance company has been “very, very helpful and just wanted to get us up and operating as soon as we can. I am hoping that we can get everything covered under insurance,” Mullaly said.
Tributes pour in for beloved ice cream shop
Tributes to the ice cream shop poured into its Facebook page following Monday’s crash. Many writers mentioned the significance of the business to the city, the neighborhood and their personal lives.
“Oh no!” Vicky Nichols wrote. “This is where my husband and I met 25 years ago! So sorry this happened to Taggarts! We’ll be watching the progress to restoration!”
Diane Wolf Bertram wrote: “So sorry to see this. Thinking of you all and hoping for an expedited repair. We sat in those booths for three generations celebrating special family occasions. Looking forward to many more at this Canton Ohio Treasure!”
“Best Ohio ice cream and comfort food restaurant !!!” wrote Facebook user Diane Charlene Vance.
“We have to flood them with business,” wrote Jennifer Lynn. “Taggarts has been a staple of our community for a very long time.”
“I have never witnessed such (an outpouring) of love for an ice cream store or any other restaurant,” Tom Taggart wrote. “It is a tribute to my grandfather who built the place, my father who started the business and kudos to the various owners who have kept the dream alive over all these many years and to Canton my hometown. I hope the building is repaired so that the Taggarts can come and celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2026.”
Criminal charges filed against fleeing motorist
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash that occurred when a 23-year-old drove a stolen car into the building at 1401 Fulton Road NW around 2:12 a.m. Monday.
It happened after a trooper from the patrol’s Canton post tried to get the driver to stop. The motorist tried a high-speed backing maneuver from 14th Street across Fulton. He backed into the ice cream shop.
The suspect ran away but was soon caught by Canton police.
The car had been stolen from a garage in the 1100 block of Monument Road NW, a little more than half a mile away from the ice cream shop.
The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Canton Municipal Court. He is charged with burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, failure to comply/fleeing from a police officer, vandalism, OVI, driving under license suspension, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with no taillights.
Meet Mindy Mullaly:She owns Taggarts Ice Cream and Kennedy’s Bar-B-Que
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
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