After nearly 70 years of doling out sweet treats to the community, Theno’s Dairy in Redmond is closing.

Owner Doug Bloor bid a final farewell to his customers in a letter to the editor to The Woodinville Weekly, which was posted on Theno’s Facebook site Tuesday, thanking customers for their “patronage, love and support.”

“Having the chance to serve you what we felt was the best ice cream around for all these years has been a privilege and also a lot of fun,” he said in the letter.

Bloor said 33 years of his life have been wrapped around the ice cream parlor located at 12248 Woodinville Redmond Rd. N.E. and closing was a heart-wrenching decision that was not made lightly.

He cited a number of things that led to this decision including ongoing road construction at the intersection where they are located, the removal of their back driveway access, the down economy and the rising cost of doing business, according to the letter.

“Our building, which some considered part of our ‘hole in the wall’ charm is also in very poor repair,” Bloor added.

He said it has become difficult to ensure the integrity of their ice cream and the repair costs were beyond his means. Washington Cathedral, Bloor’s landlord, has not been able to afford the repairs as well, the letter stated.

QUASHING RUMORS

Bloor also emphasized Washington Cathedral’s support throughout the years, quashing rumors that the church has forced Theno’s out of business.

“They have been as big an advocate of Theno’s Dairy as anyone and if not for their kindness and patience we would have been gone long ago,” he wrote.

Tim White, senior pastor at Washington Cathedral, said the church is also financially strapped and cannot afford to make any improvements at the landmark corner. White said church officials will sit down with Redmond city planners in the future to try to “see what we can do from here.”

He said the church has no current plans of selling the property to an investor, but at the same time, the church is not interested in “getting into the ice cream business.”

“Theno’s is a long part of the history around here,” White said. “We’re not going to forget that this is Theno’s corner.”

Rob Odle, City of Redmond planning director, said the Theno’s Dairy site is part of the church’s approved master plan and cannot be used for commercial use. Odle said it is up to the church how they want to use the building and the five acres surrounding it.

“They still have a master plan for church uses on that site,” Odle said. “It could be used for the church campus.”

As of right now, the church has “no future plans” for the building and the property, White said.

RESIDENTS SHOW THEIR LOVE

After the letter was posted online and a link was added to Theno’s Facebook page, people began commenting, expressing their sadness. Many asked where they would go for ice cream now, calling Theno’s the best they’d ever had. Others shared memories of stopping by after sports games, going with their families and looking forward to the shop opening every summer — thanking Theno’s for being part of those memories and wishing the business luck in the future.

There were also those who were sad they won’t be able to make new memories:

“Seriously dreading telling my children. They are going to freak out,” Julie Verner Westra posted. “End of an iconic (institution) in these parts.”

Jonnie Crivello wrote, “I want to bring my Mother there once more. She used to bring us as children to the ice cream shop… I ache with pain. We’ll probably drive by this coming weekend… for old time sake… words cannot describe what I feel… I’m so sorry you had to close. Theno’s will live on in (our hearts) in our childhood memories until our dying day.”

Not ready to let their beloved ice cream shop go, many commenters on Theno’s Facebook page also shared their willingness to fundraise and volunteer to help repair the building.

Matt Campbell calculated that with a population of about 50,000, if everyone in Redmond donated $5, they would raise $250,000.

“I am guessing that would be more then enough to save that place,” he wrote on the Facebook page.

In response to Campbell’s suggestion, Louise Chouinard posted that she is willing to create an online fundraising website for Theno’s.

Not to be left out, Doreen Blanding said Woodinville residents would be just as willing to do their share as well.

“You know Woodinville has a stake in this too!” she wrote. “Just imagine the dollars we can raise. I’m in! I need a place to take my soccer players after a game!”

According to the comment threads on the Facebook page, the ice cream lovers are still waiting for a response from Theno’s regarding their offers to help.

Bloor did not discuss any future plans regarding Theno’s in his letter, but he encouraged customers to keep an eye on their Facebook page in case any activities pop up such as a “barn sale” of items from the business.

“For now I say goodbye, thank you for all your business and remember to go out of your way to support local businesses whenever possible,” Bloor wrote.

Redmond Reporter Editor Bill Christianson contributed to this story.