Saco Scoops : Melissa Colley

Melissa Colley at Saco Scoop in Saco, Maine.

A Door That’s Always Open

It’s a Monday afternoon on Main Street in Saco, Maine, and the Saco Scoop shop smells like hot fudge and waffle cones. Behind the counter, Melissa Colley greets every customer by name — or, if she doesn’t know it yet, simply as “my friend.”

“Because that’s the way it always was,” she says, glancing at the handwritten menu above her shoulder. “And don’t change what’s not broken.”

At 209 Main Street, next to the post office, Saco Scoop isn’t just an ice cream shop — it’s part of the heartbeat of downtown. “We sell Shaker Pond ice cream — about 35 flavors,” Melissa says. “We always keep a couple of vegan options, too.”

The counter is lined with cones and candy, the walls dotted with souvenirs and books from local authors. “We’ve got local artisans, local authors — a lot of Maine souvenirs,” she says. “Summer’s our busiest time. Tourists fill the sidewalks.”

But for Melissa, the locals fill her heart — especially in the off-season, when she keeps the lights on while others may not. “We’re open year-round,” she says. “That’s one thing I promised myself I’d do. We stay open. Always.”

From Submarines to Sundaes 

Melissa didn’t grow up in Maine. She grew up in Rhode Island and moved often as a Navy wife. “My husband served on submarines for 20 years,” she says. “We lived in Hawaii, Washington State, South Carolina, and Rhode Island. I always knew I wanted to raise my kids in New England, so when he retired, Kittery it was.”

She laughs when she remembers how she ended up 45 minutes north. “Thornton Academy — that’s what did it. Our older daughter started there, and the younger was in eighth grade at TAMS. We rented an apartment so we could be closer to school, and we started staying in Saco more than in Kittery. We liked it here, so we sold our home in Kittery.”

That decision changed everything. “I didn’t have my house projects anymore,” she says. “So I came here — to Saco Scoop — just for something to do.”

That “something” turned into a full-time passion. “Something to do turned into Saco Scoop ownership,” she says with a grin.

A Scoopful of History

When Melissa started, Saco Scoop wasn’t a private business. “It was a nonprofit — owned by Saco Main Street,” she explains. “The story is that Saco Bay Creamery, down the street, was closing. The women who ran it were retiring and moving to Florida. Rob Biggs, then executive director of Saco Main Street, didn’t want Saco to lose its ice cream shop, so he rented this space and opened it as a nonprofit."

Melissa began managing the shop in October 2019, just before the world shut down for a very different reason. “Right before COVID,” she says. “It was a whirlwind. When things opened back up, none of the kids who worked here came back. So my daughters scooped. One was in eighth grade, the other a freshman. We made it work.”

By January 2023, Melissa officially bought the business. “You don’t walk out one day as a manager and walk in the next day as an owner,” she says. “There are a lot of hoops to jump through. But it was worth it.”

A Business Built on Fun

Melissa didn’t buy the shop for money. She bought it for joy. “It’s a blast,” she says, laughing. “I’m not 53 years old — I’m the same age as the kids. This is a youthful place. I bought it because I was not done having fun. Until I stop having fun, I’ll keep going. And when I’m not having fun anymore, we’re done.”

Her employees — most of them high-schoolers — learn lessons that last long after summer ends. “One of my jobs was to mentor the kids,” she says. “Some of them, it was their first job. I made sure they felt comfortable.”

Community, Connection, and Cones

If you spend five minutes at Saco Scoop, you’ll understand Melissa’s magic. It’s not just ice cream — it’s connection. “I could write a Chicken Soup for the Soul book,” she says. “Call it A Double Scoop for the Soul. Because everyone who walks in the door is already my friend.”

She’s met people from all over the world. “There was this woman who moved here from Hawaii,” she recalls. “When she left Hawaii, she met another military wife who told her, ‘Go to the ice cream shop in Saco next to the post office — my friend Melissa owns it.’ Turns out that woman was one of my customers from years ago when I lived in Kittery. Never met her, but somehow she sent someone from Hawaii to me. It’s a small world.”

The Scoop on Social Media

Melissa’s marketing background is a secret weapon. “I started a different business before Facebook was even a thing,” she says. “I designed and manufactured children’s shoes and apparel. It started on eBay. She turned into a six-figure business. It was huge — all on social media.”

When she took over the Saco Scoop accounts, she made it personal. “The first thing I did was introduce every employee,” she says. “I interviewed them on social media. People loved it. Biggs, who opened Saco Scoop — even asked me, ‘Who’s doing your social media?’ I said, ‘I am, Rob.’ He said, ‘Wow!’”

It’s no wonder the shop’s followers feel like family. “People want to be validated,” she says. “That’s what I do here. If I don’t know your name, I’ll call you my friend.”

Scooping for a Cause

Melissa’s Celebrity Scoop Nights are her favorite part of owning the business. “We host a local school or organization, and they send teachers or leaders to scoop behind the counter,” she explains. “The kids come in to see their teachers, and we donate 20% back to their group.”

She’s hosted Sweetser, Old Orchard Fire Department, Steppin’ Up Dance Company, and Thornton Academy cheerleaders, among others. “It brings the community together,” she says. “We get to write a check, and it’s just my favorite thing. I’d do it every day if I could.”

Passing the Scoop

Six years later, Melissa still works side by side with local teens. “One of them is in business school now,” she says. “He jokes that I’m going to give him the scoop when he graduates. Every kid who’s ever worked here, I’m still in touch with. Every single one.”

Her advice to other small business owners is simple: “Social media is free. Use it. Free is good,” she laughs.

Regulars and Rainy Days

Before closing, Melissa has one more message for the community. “Come get ice cream on the days that aren’t sunny,” she says. “The rainy days — that’s when we need you. When someone walks in, it's all worth it.” As if on cue, the door opens again. An older couple walks in — regulars since the shop’s earliest days. “See, I knew you guys would be open,” the woman says, smiling.

“Of course we’re open,” Melissa replies.

They chat about the summer, the beach, and the kittens her daughter just brought home. When they leave, the woman turns back and says what everyone in Saco already knows: “We’ve been to all the ice cream shops. Saco Scoop is our favorite.”

Melissa watches them go, smiling softly. “That’s why I do it,” she says. “That’s everything.”

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BRICK+TIDES is a weekly digital magazine based in York County, Maine. We share positive and inspiring stories about local businesses, people, and places that make Southern Maine special. If you'd like to read another one next week, we'd love for you to subscribe,

Many thanks to Saco Scoops and Melissa for her time. Visit her at 209 Main Street, Saco, Maine.

And on Instagram at THESACOSCOOP