As the shop celebrates seven years in business, the locally loved ice cream destination continues to grow not only through its desserts, but through the relationships and memories built along the way.
What began as a small business dream has turned into a community staple where customers have become friends, traditions have formed, and familiar faces still walk through the doors years later. The owner said one of the most rewarding parts of the journey has been watching loyal customers continue to return.
“We still have people that came from the very beginning who are still regulars,” owner Cynthia Hendricks says, while reflecting on the milestone anniversary.
That loyalty has helped the business earn repeated recognition from the community, including another “Best of Coweta” honor this year.
“We’ve just had such a loyal group of customers,” she said. “It really made us feel good that we got Best of Coweta again, and we just want to keep living up to that.”
The owner said it would be impossible to single out just one memorable customer because so many have become part of the shop’s story over the years.
“I don’t know if I could even name one specific customer,” she said. “We just have so many great ones.”
The anniversary celebration comes as the business prepares for another busy season of community events and festivals, including upcoming appearances at local markets and night events that have become some of the shop’s favorite traditions. Among them, the Night Market stands out as a favorite for both staff and customers.
Night Market, a recurring event held around the lake in Peachtree City, has become a gathering place filled with food vendors, music, and community interaction. The owner said the atmosphere keeps them coming back whenever possible.
“It’s probably my favorite event,” she said. “If they let us, I would do every single Night Market.”
This upcoming weekend on May 16, they will be at the Berries and Bloom Festival in downtown Newnan.
The business has also quietly expanded beyond its original storefront over the years. Its handcrafted ice cream is now sold to wholesale buyers in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at Moonshot Creamery along the Riverwalk, and more recently at Heirloom Donuts in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. The wholesale expansion came after years of conversations and persistence from business owners who wanted to carry the shop’s products.
With the incredible growth, the company has remained committed to quality ingredients and scratch-made products. Everything from cookies and candy pieces to brittle and baked goods are still made in-house before being incorporated into the ice cream production process.
“We are continually refining our baked goods,” the owner said. “Everything is from scratch.”
That dedication has helped create a growing following for the shop’s weekend specialty items, including homemade Pop-Tarts and cinnamon rolls that often sell out quickly on market days.
Maintaining those standards has not always been easy. Rising ingredient costs, especially for chocolate and imported products, have created new challenges for small businesses across the food industry. Still, Rock Salt’s owner stresses that continuing to prioritize quality remains important to the brand’s identity.
Part of the business’s charm comes from the relationships built inside the shop. Regular customers are known by name, inside jokes develop naturally, and longtime visitors become part of the daily rhythm of the store. One customer affectionately nicknamed “Brad Pitt” by staff has become something of a local legend among employees and regulars alike.
The owner said those relationships are what have mattered most over the last seven years.
“We’ve literally had customers from the beginning that I know really well now, and I know stuff about their families,” she said.
The shop’s downtown location has helped create a sense of connection that extends beyond ice cream. Customers stop in to chat, families gather after events, and market days often bring lines out the door. The business has become part of the rhythm of the community, especially during festivals and weekends downtown.
While the company has experimented with additional locations over the years, the original store remains the heart of the operation and continues to be its strongest and most beloved location.
As the business moves into year eight, the focus remains simple: creating memorable experiences, serving quality desserts, and continuing to be a place where people feel at home.
For the owner, seven years later, that may be the sweetest success of all.
You can find Rock Salt Milk Bar at 8 E Washington St, Newnan, GA 30263 and 107 Lexington Cir, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
