INSIDE SCOOP

DOUMAR’S BBQ AND ICE CREAM 1919 MONTICELLO AVE, NORFOLK, VA 23517 • 757-627-4163 • doumars.com • Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm

When you get ice cream, do you opt for cone or cup? I don’t know about you, but when I order ice cream I tend to get it in a cup, simply because I savor my treat and, more often than not, the ice cream would be melting before it was nished. But, what if you didn’t have that choice? If it weren’t for Mr. Abe Doumar, that’s how life would be today. It was 1904 in St. Louis and the World’s Fair was in progress. Along with all the fun and amusements, there was some scientific wizardry introduced: the x-ray machine, the electric typewriter, telautograph (precursor to the fax machine) and the Poulson telegraphone (to become the telephone answering machine). Not to be overshadowed by science was the debut of several foods: iced tea, hamburgers and hot dogs. While these had existed previously, many visitors had never seen them and, thus, brought them to the forefront. Abe Doumar, a traveling salesman selling paperweights, was one of these visitors. One evening he noticed that an ice cream vendor was closing his stand early as he had run out of paper dishes used for serving to-go orders. Nearby was a vendor cooking up waf e cones on a single-iron waf e maker, served with a dollop of whipped cream. Putting two and two together, Doumar bought a cone, rolled it up and, walking over to the ice cream vendor, topped the rolled waf e with ice cream. The combination of warm sweetness of the waf e with cool ice cream was the start of something beautiful. Abe brought the two vendors together and, for the rest of the fair, he sold ice cream in the world’s rst waf e cones. Abe, an immigrant from Damascus, Syria, brought his family to the United States and began the family business. He built a four-iron waf e maker to speed up the process and, in 1905,

opened the rst of many Doumar’s Ice Cream stands that would stretch up and down the East coast. Today, in Norfolk, VA, that original waf e maker is still in use and can be seen, and smelled, baking these incredible waf es in which to enjoy their homemade ice cream. The shop on Monticello Avenue, which opened in 1934, is a real throwback to easier times. Upon arrival, you’ll see the bays of drive-in parking spots. While the wait staff are not on roller skates, they do serve with a smile. Just park your car and ash your lights when ready to order. If traveling by motorcycle, you might want to come inside and take a seat at one of the many booths or counter stools. Adorning the walls are photos of Doumar’s history, many of which feature Albert, Abe’s nephew, who captained the ship through the rough times of the ‘60s and ‘70s, expanding the menu to include barbeque, burgers and limeades, all handcrafted as are the waf e cones. For well over 100 years, Doumar’s has become an historic landmark in Norfolk, as well as a family go-to for delicious food, fun atmosphere and a real look into the way things were in this country when things were light and easy. Take one look at their menu and you’ll see what we mean. During our visit we dined on their pork barbeque (served minced with slaw), bacon cheeseburger and Taylor Pork Roll sandwich. My double meat barbeque was terri c, especially with a bit of their homemade barbeque sauce. Brian was certainly satis ed after his burger and Taylor Ham Sandwich. The fries were perfectly cooked and crispy. Of course we saved room for dessert – we’d be fools not to. A scoop of butter pecan sitting atop a homemade, fresh waf e cone was the perfect ending to a fun meal. Doumar’s waf e cones are not the extra-large ones but rather the size of a sugar cone, which was just perfect for me. Their other dessert offerings include shakes (Egg Nog, Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake apparently are seasonal), ice cream oats (concocted by Robert Green and originally sold in 1874 in Philadelphia) and a grand selection of ice cream sundaes (from their menu: The Sundae was developed in Evanston, Illinois after that community legislated against the evil “Sunday Soda Menace.” It contained no soda water and was therefore no threat to the morale of the community - sounds familiar doesn’t it). Should you fall in love with Doumar’s cones, you can get a souvenir jar of 2 dozen cones to enjoy your own creations at home. If you nd yourself traveling through Norfolk, VA, it would behoove you to make a stop at Doumar’s Barbecue. It will bring a smile to your face and the child back in your heart. ~ Shira Kamil