The ice cream and sandwich shop is owned by Michael Parent, which raises the question — just who is Hugo?

“That is actually our dog, my oldest daughter’s dog,” Parent said. “She went to Colorado and could not bring it with her, so my youngest daughter inherited it and when my oldest tried to move back she realized she was not getting her dog back. So as a joke we just named it Hugo’s and everybody liked it.”

Parent was born in Ontonagon, grew up in Kalamazoo and now lives in Iron Mountain. He said he decided to place his business in Florence because the town reminds him very much of his hometown.

Running Hugo’s Eats & Treats will be a new experience for Parent. He worked the past seven years at System Controls and before that was a stay-at-home dad. Now he is looking for something to do in semi-retirement.

HUGO’S EATS & TREATS is at 640 Central Ave. in Florence, Wis. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

The shop is at 640 Central Ave. in Florence, in the former location of the Seven1five Outpost. Parent says he wants to pick up where Seven1five Outpost left off.

“They did such a great job serving the community, we want to carry on that tradition,” Parent said.

But getting the shop ready to open proved no small task — a small remodeling project turned into a major rebuild that took nearly two years.

A leaking roof had poured water into the walls, causing the wood framing to deteriorate. In addition, restrooms needed to be added to have a dining room, so water and sewer was extended through the whole building.

Last year’s sewer line project in Florence also slowed progress, he said.

When people heard Parent planned to open the shop, the first question was whether he would serve Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream as Seven1Five Outpost had?

Getting the rights to sell Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream proved to be a project in itself. Chocolate Shoppe is a super-premium ice cream made in Madison, Wis., and is only in small businesses in 26 states. The closest businesses carrying it in the Upper Peninsula are in Ishpeming and Gladstone, he said.

“We could not get the contract because the truck coming this way was already full, but they said, ‘Keep trying,'” Parent said. “Then between the city’s sewer project and the remodel, it took a lot longer and we thought we were going to lose the contract but they said no problem.”

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream makes more than 60 flavors, including classics such as Mackinac Island Fudge, Blue Moon, Mint Chip and Pistachio Nut and new favorites such as Zanzibar Chocolate and several seasonal varieties.

Hugo’s Eats & Treats has nearly 30 flavors available at any time and will regularly rotate in new flavors.

For those not able to enjoy regular ice cream because of the dairy, Hugo’s Eats & Treats offers a vegan variety made with oat milk. Parent said the response to the vegan options has been wonderful and he has enjoyed bringing ice cream to those who normally can’t eat it.

Hugo’s Eats & Treats sells ice cream bowls, cones, sundaes, shakes and malts. They will make a shake with any flavor of ice cream they sell, Parent said, adding he’s had fun making nontraditional-flavored shakes.

Beyond ice cream, Hugo’s Eats & Treats has sub sandwiches, with the option to create your own or choose from favorites such the Hugo Snack Sandwich, made with roast beef, turkey and cheese that Parent said he came up with while daydreaming.

Parent was also asked if he would continue the previous shop’s tradition of selling Chicago-style hot dogs, so he got in touch with the Vienna Beef Company and arranged to get them shipped in for an authentic Chicago-style hot dog.

The response Hugo’s Eats & Treats has received so far has been overwhelmingly positive, Parent said, not only from the community and other businesses but from people who travel to try the vegan ice cream.

Parent said he looks forward to playing a role in the community and plans to support local school sports by getting quick meals to athletes and referees before and after the games.

Hugo’s Eats & Treats is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays. Parent said he hopes to hire more people and expand hours soon.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new business owners in the region. Know of a business that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 85229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.