Crime & Safety

Vandalism Brings a Rocky Road to Island Ice Cream

Owner started with a lot of optimism and support, but a rash of vandalism targeting the small business has Kristin Formolo thinking she might close for good.

With a lot of fanfare, and a production schedule that brought a tiny business to the Idle Isle Park pavilion in record time, started serving up scoops in June.

However, just as quickly, the business suffered a rash of vandalism that has cost owner Kristin Formolo about $4,000 in product, and thinking that she may close at the end of the season...for good.

"It's just been a weird summer," Formolo said in an interview with Muskego Patch."We've had to close several times, and it's frustrating and disappointing."

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At least seven different incidents involving various pieces of equipment, including an air conditioner and coolers, have resulted in destroyed product. At first Formolo felt there was an issue with the electrical but a couple of visits from an electrician ruled that out.

Locking the breaker box alleviated the problem for a short time, but Formolo began to suspect it was someone unplugging the cooler after she left for the day, only to plug it back in when she came back to open at noon every day.

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Her suspicions were confirmed when one day the plug was simply laying across the cooler when she walked in. She said she has also found soda cans on the floor in the morning and missing food. As she is the one there closing every night, and one of a handful of people with access to the store, she's disheartened over the incidents.

Muskego Police have been actively investigating and have tried several times to capture the culprit, with only limited success, which has only been more frustrating to Formolo. MPD has declined further comment in order to protect the investigation, and increase their chances for success.

No other vandalism has been done to the pavilion during the summer.

"I can't believe it's that difficult," Formolo said. "I was hoping for a much quicker resolution to this. There's only one way in to the store."

She feels that it is someone "who just doesn't want a business on the island. Who would do this otherwise?"

The otherwise upbeat Formolo was resigned as she said, "I came forward with this idea because it seemed like the community asked for this. I saw it as a response to that," she said of the ice cream shop. "Ice cream shouldn't be this contentious."


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