VALDOSTA — Photos of faces young and old enjoying dripping ice cream cones smile down from the walls of TJ’s Ice Cream and Game Room on Bemiss Road.

The old fashioned ice cream parlor was decorated by Unique Interiors and is designed in a retro ’50’s style, with black and while tile floors, soda shop tables with the Coca-Cola logo, antique signs and even the front half of a Volkswagen Beetle mounted from the back wall.

The family business is owned by Derald Jones and managed by his wife, Patricia, and their daughter, Tonya Jones Scott.

Jones retired from the Air Force after a 20-year career in 2000 and began teaching fifth grade at Dewar Elementary School. “I wanted to own a business that would be a place for the kids on this side of town to come to.”

Initially, he thought about opening a game room, but decided to also include ice cream and simple food items. The shop features a long counter showcasing 50 flavors of ice cream and yogurt, a seating area and a game area with pool tables, air hockey and a variety of games. “I keep it inexpensive. All the games are a quarter,” he said.

Jones is a caring teacher and a caring businessman, with the brightly lit parlor an inviting, yet safe environment for children. He has lived in Valdosta since being stationed at Moody Air Force Base in 1992 and has many ties to the community through the military and the school system. He offers coupons for free scoops of ice cream to honor roll students at several schools and helps area organizations that work with children as well as churches.

“I want to emphasize the kids,” he said, smilingly acknowledging that his students enjoy coming into TJ’s and having their teacher wait on them.

When he made the decision to open the business, Jones said he studied other similar shops in the area and will be forever grateful to Vicki Edwards and Dorothy Goodloe, the owners of The Scoop in Valdosta.

“They were very helpful to me. I learned how to set everything up and duplicated their counter area. They were so nice, when I placed my first order for ice cream, I had no idea how much of the flavors to buy and they helped me do it,” he said. As the businesses are on opposite sides of town, Jones said they aren’t direct competitors and he tries to send business their way when he can as a thank you for their help.

Jones wants to keep things simple, so in addition to the ice cream and yogurt, the shop sells hot dogs, sausage dogs and nachos, and a variety of ice cream specialties. Eventually, he hopes to add more dessert items so customers can come in after dinner for pie and coffee.

“Teens need somewhere to go to shoot pool and hang out where alcohol’s not served. I keep the lights bright and the music low to keep the right atmosphere in here,” he says.

Open since January, Jones said he and his family have been very fortunate this year in their sweet new business venture. “It does me a lot of good to see people have a good time,” he smiles.



To contact Business Editor Kay Harris, please call 244-3400, ext. 280.