A vintage ice cream trailer that has spent years scooping soft serve at weddings and events around Lakeland may be putting down permanent roots. Amanda LaLonde, founder of Ellie B's Ice Cream & Sweets, has filed plan review paperwork for a brick-and-mortar shop at 204 South Collins St, Suite B, in downtown Plant City.
According to WhatNow, which reported finding the plan review filing, the move would mark Ellie B's first fixed location after operating for years as a mobile concept. LaLonde created the business as a creative outlet and a way to share her lifelong love of ice cream and events, and the company currently serves signature soft serve from a vintage trailer that her husband, Guy, built by hand. LaLonde was unavailable for immediate comment when WhatNow reached out about the potential expansion.
Ellie B's Ice Cream & Sweets LLC has existed on paper since well before this filing. Amanda LaLonde incorporated the business in Florida on July 12, 2021, registering it with a principal address in Lakeland, according to Sunbiz.org records. That five-year run as a mobile-only operation is what makes the storefront filing notable: the company built its name creating photo-worthy dessert experiences for weddings and events, all from the road, before ever considering a fixed address.
A Storefront With Some History Already Attached
The address itself isn't new to the restaurant business. The 204 South Collins Street space previously housed Angelina's Deli LLC, a grab-and-go breakfast and sandwich shop that was administratively dissolved by the state of Florida in September 2025, per Sunbiz records. Because the site has sat closed for more than a year, Florida's regulatory process treats it similarly to a newly converted space, meaning any new tenant must submit a formal plan review before the state will issue an operating license, according to guidance published by Toast POS.
That review process has gotten notably faster in recent years. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Division of Hotels and Restaurants has cut its average processing time for public food service plan reviews to under six days, down from roughly 21 days in prior years, based on figures the agency highlighted on MyFloridaLicense.com. Once open, a permanent storefront would also carry ongoing state costs: annual DBPR licensing fees for seated food service establishments range from $366 for venues under 50 seats up to $614 for larger spaces exceeding 150 seats.
Family Ties Run Through Local Business and Government
The LaLondes aren't newcomers to Central Florida's commercial scene. Amanda LaLonde is married to Guy, her high school sweetheart, who built the business's vintage trailer by hand. Guy LaLonde Jr. was elected to the Lakeland City Commission representing the Northwest District in December 2023 after winning a runoff with 57.58% of the vote, according to LkldNow.
Before his election to public office, Guy LaLonde Jr. founded two Central Florida event service companies, Lakeland Moonwalk of Polk County, Inc. and Under One Tent Events, Inc., which have supplied party infrastructure throughout the region, per information from the City of Lakeland. Amanda LaLonde has also picked up regional press attention in her own right, previously sharing insights on mobile catering and wedding vendor strategies with The Lakelander.
A Downtown Corridor Built for Foot Traffic
If the shop opens as planned, it would land in one of Plant City's more pedestrian-friendly stretches. The 204 South Collins Street property sits within walking distance of downtown landmarks including McCall Park and established local dining spots such as Krazy Kup and Whistle Stop Cafe, according to a listing on Apartments.com. Historic Plant City Main Street also hosts its monthly Last Friday in Downtown market and food truck rally at McCall Park, an event that draws vendors and regular foot traffic directly past the proposed storefront.
Ellie B's has been vocal about the community support that's carried it this far, expressing gratitude for every cone, like, share, and booking that has backed the business, and the brand keeps its following updated through the Instagram handle @elliebsicecream. Key details remain unresolved, including the exact opening timeline, the shop's eventual layout, and whether the storefront would run alongside the original vintage trailer or replace mobile bookings altogether.
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