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Some are thin and some are thick, Robert Payton the owner of the ‘Eskimoo’ milkshake bars in Lincoln spoke to our reporter at Ripe magazine, Tash Keech, about why you wont get a normal shake..
T.K Please can you tell me about the milkshakes Eskimoo sells
R.P – Basically the idea is to choose your favorite type of chocolate, sweets, fruit or cereal and then we blend it all together with milk and ice-cream. You can then add whipped cream, sprinkles, sauce or nuts and there you have an ‘Eskimoo shake’!
T.K So, how long has the original Eskimoo store, on Guildhall Street in Lincoln, been open?
R.P It opened in October 2008, so it has been open for just over two years now. The new store opened on 17th March.
T.K Has the new store, on St. Marks Street, been a success so far?
R.P Yes, very much so! It’s all about generating new customers down this end of Lincoln and not splitting our present customers between the two shops, they are quite a distance apart! The location is great because it often gets busy at the road crossing opposite. It is really close to the University and not too far away from the football stadium, so hopefully it will get lots of passing trade. Also because the store opened on Red nose day we have given a portion of the sales to Comic Relief.
T.K Is the new store any different from the one on Guildhall Street?
R.P The design is replicated but there are differences too. For example the colour schemes are replicated and both stores have the menu printed on the window however, the new shop has seating so customers can drink their milkshakes inside. There is also a ‘serve through window’ so customers don’t have to queue for their shakes inside, this will be great during the summer.
T.K Who came up with this idea to make chocolate bars and packets of sweets into a milkshake?
R.P The concept itself is not ours but the ‘Eskimoo’ name, branding and design is entirely ours. A cartoonist in the US designed the logo from a specific brief of ours.
T.K How many different flavors or varieties of milkshakes do you sell?
R.P Approximately 120! But combination wise, (we allow up to three ingredients in each) and taking the nine toppings into account, millions! You can have anything in it from Galaxy caramel and Apple Pie or Crunchie and Toffee Crisp ! Whatever takes your fancy!
T.K Which is the most popular ingredient?
R.P The top two are Daim and Oreo. Oreo probably has the edge. The top 10 are pretty much always the same 15 (if this makes sense) and jostle for position each week.
T.K Roughly how much do you sell the shakes for?
R.P This all depends on what sort of shake you have but roughly £2.85. The Eskimoo specials are all slightly more expensive at £3.60. This is because they have more sweets or chocolate in them!
T.K Why are the ‘specials’ so special?
R.P These are milkshakes that staff in the Guildhall store thought up. Sales of these will be tracked and then which ever one is most successful and has the most sales will win a prize. Some of these milkshakes include ‘Head Zinger’ which has refreshers and lemon sherbet with popping candy on the top, ‘Moovie Fodder’ Toffee popcorn with chocolate M & M’s in and also the ‘Velvet Munky’ a galazy bar with a banana thrown in. There is something for everyones taste buds.
T.K Have you got any plans to open any more stores?
R.P Yes but in the right locations and slowly and surely, growing organically.