The Sugar Bear was created by Gary and Cindy Verdries from a converted auto service station. The store opened in May, 1976, two days after Gary and Cindy were married. They ran the Ice Cream Parlour 7 days a week until midnight. After surviving two of the worst winters in the past century, the Verdries’ sold the Sugar Bear in 1980 to The Neale family so that they could start a family. In 2004 mother and daughter, Leslie and Courtney Buhl purchased The Sugar Bear. They had one main goal, make The Sugar Bear MORE than JUST ice cream again and let it continue as a traditional dessert stop for the surrounding families