After more than 30 years of serving up sundaes, smiles, and memories, Perry's Last Stand is officially closing its doors - and it's not by choice.
Owners Mardie and Jim Winterbottom were stunned when they returned from a short weekend getaway to find a certified letter in their mailbox. It was from their landlord and Jim's stepfather, Bob Perry, informing them that their lease would not be renewed and that they had 60 days to vacate the property.
The Winterbottoms had expected a routine off-season closure. Instead, they found themselves scrambling to pack up the business that Jim's mother first opened in 1992.
"It doesn't feel great," Jim admitted. "It's uncomfortable to talk about and impossible to explain."
The couple said they repeatedly tried to contact Perry, but have received no response. "We thought everything was fine," Mardie said. "We were shocked."
They have no idea what Perry's plans are for the ice cream shop's location. However, there is an online auction planned for this Thursday, October 23, in which all of the equipment inside the shop will be auctioned off.
Originally launched as both a store and a fleet of ice cream trucks, Perry's Last Stand has been a Wareham summer staple for decades. When Jim's mother passed away in 2004, the Winterbottoms slowly grew the operation, expanding the truck business across Southeastern Massachusetts while keeping the original Wareham shop open as a tribute to his late mother.
"When we bought the business 15 years ago, we kept the name to honor her," Mardie said. "It was something she built, and we wanted to continue her legacy."
The Winterbottoms said they have no immediate plans to re-open their business in another location. Their ice cream trucks, which serve pre-packaged treats across the SouthCoast, will continue to operate, but the beloved drive-thru sundaes and homemade creamsicles are gone for now.
"We just weren't ready to give it up," Jim said. "My mom would be disappointed."
"I just hope he got what he wanted," Jim said of his stepfather.
For now, the couple is focusing on their mobile operations while reflecting on 15 sweet summers that meant so much to so many.
Bob Perry was unavailable for comment on this story.