Chill Zone Re-Opens, with Changes and High Hopes

On a sunny afternoon last week, a group of students crowded together at the long counter seating area of the , waiting for their food. One boy turned to owner Bob Cooke and said, “Wait, was there a PS3 here before?”

Cooke paused, then said, “I gotta be honest with you, it’s been sitting in my living room all winter and I’m liking it.” After a beat, he added, “But I’ll bring it in.”

Minutes later, the boys wolfed down hot dogs and french fries, while Cooke sat at a picnic table outside the store and discussed the return of the Chill Zone. The ice cream shop, which had first opened last October, shut down during the winter. There was a small re-opening celebration last Saturday, though Cooke was quick to point out there will be a much bigger party this month, on a date yet to be determined.

“That will be the real deal,” Cooke said. The party will feature the teen heavy metal band Cyanide playing on a stage behind the shop.

“Last fall, when we opened up, it was my first time doing anything like that. There was a lot of trial and error,” he said. “I think we did a very good job but it could be improved.”

There had been some electrical problems in the beginning, with circuits being overloaded and shutting down. Over the winter, Cooke brought in an electrician to rewire and put every appliance on its own circuit.

The menu has also gone through some rewiring. The lobster roll is back, but less popular items have been eliminated. The newly condensed menu allows more freezer space for ice cream storage.

Cooke has also added healthier items to the menu, including a fat-free grilled chicken wrap and fat-free smoothies. He said he’s flexible and willing to adapt the menu to customer requests.

“I do whatever. It’s the Chill Zone. It’s chill,” Cooke said. “It’s the beauty of being the owner. I can do anything.”

Cooke believes his fried food sets him apart from other Winchester restaurants. “We invested $10,000 in a computerized Fryolator,” he said. “The food is cooked perfectly every single time.”

When customers return, they want to know where the seafood comes from. Cooke shrugged and said, “It’s a good product, but it’s the Fryolator. That’s the big difference.”

Among the most popular items are fried Snickers bars and fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The candies are rolled up in thin dough and deep fried, then topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. “It’s good stuff,” Cooke said, smiling.

Cooke will soon offer a discount for all students.

“I’m hoping that draws the kids in, because they can’t afford much,” he said. “The kids, when they come in, they always pull out pennies and I feel bad.”

Looking out at a blue sky on a spring day, Cooke said he hopes the Chill Zone will establish itself enough this summer to be able to stay open through the winter.

“I’m really excited about it,” Cooke said. “Last fall, I knew all we had in front of us was winter. I’m really looking forward to having all good weather in front of us.”

The Chill Zone is currently open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the summer, hours will be extended to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. on other days.