Rossco’s Ice Cream Shack previews during Homecoming

By Editor | August 21, 2025 |

This is just a fraction of the Ross clan that gathered over the three-day Triennial Homecoming to serve up ice cream at a soft opening. Left to right: Richard Ross, Clay Ross, Jessica Ross, Anita Ross, Chelsea Ross Stanton and Logan Ross. Many other members of the family, including co-owner Terry Ross, will be involved on a daily basis. They plan to be open year-round. (Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press)

By Carmen Ensinger

Though they are not technically open for business as of yet, Rossco’s Ice Cream Shack, located in what used to be the Erthal’s Convenience Store on the Greenfield Square, had a soft opening during the three-day Greenfield Triennial Homecoming serving up customers a taste of what is to come.
The business is owned by Anita and Terry Ross of Carrollton. Anita Ross just recently retired as a cook for Illinois Valley preparing the meals for the Senior Citizens at the Carrollton location. It wasn’t long after this retirement that she dived head-long into this venture with her husband, Terry.
“I’ve kind of had this idea of wanting to open an ice cream shop here in Greenfield for a while and just kind of decided this was a good time,” Anita Ross said. “There really isn’t anything here in Greenfield for anyone to eat so it just seemed like the right time to do it, plus they are trying to revive Greenfield so it all just kind of fell into place.”
Ross said while technically they weren’t ready to open officially when the Homecoming rolled around, they were able to do a soft opening.
“We didn’t have all our equipment in to do a full opening, but we did have enough equipment to be able to serve our soft serve ice cream and do a ‘soft’ opening – no pun intended,” Ross said. “This allowed us to just kind of get a feel of things and introduce ourselves to people and then we will shut down for two or three weeks and finish up the insides and then reopen with a grand opening.”
Ross said they plan to be open year-round and will serve more than just ice cream, shakes, soft drinks and their version of the Blizzard – the Twister.
“Our plan is to be open year-round because we know the high school kids need a place to eat lunch,” Ross said. “We hope to be open probably from11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but those times might change depending on how we do.”
The venture is pretty much a family affair with the Ross’s daughter, Chelsea Ross Stanton, and most of the grandkids who are old enough to help out doing so.
“Our grandkids are eager to help out, but we have also had a lot of students also apply for jobs, Ross said. “We are going to try to accommodate everyone. We are really happy the way the community supported us during the Homecoming and look forward to our Grand Opening.”