Just a month after opening in downtown La Center, The Sweet Collective has become a popular spot for families, coffee drinkers and ice cream lovers along the city’s main thoroughfare.
Located at 103 E. Fourth St. across from Sternwheeler Park, the store occupies the former Trellis building at the corner of East Fourth Street and Aspen Avenue. Owner Tracy Coiteux said her goal was to highlight local products and create a welcoming space for the community.
“I just wanted to have a place that the community could come and enjoy and be fun and exciting and offer ice cream and get some local bakers to be able to display their stuff in my store,” Coiteux said.
The Sweet Collective offers ice cream from local brands such as Tillamook, Umpqua and Cascade Glacier, as well as coffee from Blind Coffee Roasters in Hillsboro. The menu also includes baked goods from local bakers and house-made drinks like flavored lemonades, teas and mochas.
“I want to keep it local, so I like to hire out the local, the local bakers come in and put your stuff in here,” Coiteux said. “I'm reaching out to see if we can put local honey in here or maybe local jams, just something that you see at a farmer's market.”
Coiteux, who also owns RPM Northwest automotive repair shop, said this is her first venture in the food business. The idea grew from her connections with local bakers and a desire to create a dessert-focused destination in La Center.
She had considered the location for years before opening the shop.
“When I saw them kind of emptying it out some more, I went over and talked to the owner next door and just said, 'Hey, what are your plans for that?’” Coiteux said. “I said I really want to do a dessert ice cream location. And he goes, that's exactly what we want there.”
The Sweet Collective celebrated its ribbon-cutting on April 8, drawing one of the largest crowds the city has seen for a grand opening.
“Mayor (Tom Strobehn), who came here to do that (said) it was one of the biggest ribbon cuttings that he has performed, so that was fun,” Coiteux said.
The shop’s location near schools and housing developments has made it a popular stop for local students and families.
“A lot of kids have come in who are excited they could ride their bike down here and they don't have to have their dad bring them or their mom,” Coiteux said. “That's been really fun to let them come here.”
One menu item that has surprised customers is the dairy-free Dole Whip shake, inspired by the popular Disneyland treat.
“It is a dairy-free, pineapple (flavor) just like Disneyland's Dole whip, but made into a shake, and it is a hot item when people learn about it,” Coiteux said. “That's probably my favorite thing here.”
As business grows, The Sweet Collective continues to expand its menu and local partnerships. Upcoming additions include in-house cheesecakes and maple-bacon brownie bars, made in collaboration with another local business kitchen.
The storefront features a patio on the Aspen Avenue side, with board games available for customers to enjoy after grabbing a snack or coffee. Coiteux said she hopes the shop becomes a place where residents can slow down and spend time together.
“We want it to be a place that you can come and enjoy and take some family time,” Coiteux said.
The Sweet Collective is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The location is closed on Mondays.
