Shop’s name itself also honors late donor
Poppies Ice Cream Shoppe (PICS) on the campus of Tennessee Tech is honoring the late Millard Oakley, former university trustee and generous supporter of Tech, with a gathering of Tech Alumni March 13.
What was once a mobile cart near the Roaden University ground floor entrance, PICS expanded with a permanent setup in the Swoops Food Court with a new ice cream counter, lighting and seating in 2023.
“We wanted to bring in another option for the students to come down, have an ice cream cone or a sundae and share time with their friends. At the end of the day, this is for the students,” said Nick Dolata, director of auxiliary services at Tech.
PICS is located at 1000 N. Dixie Avenue in Cookeville. The shoppe’s name pays tribute to Oakley, who died in 2022 and loved ice cream. According to a release by the school, that love stemmed from his childhood when he couldn’t afford the five-cent cost of the frozen dessert.
“Poppie” was the name given to Oakley by his grandchildren.
PICS regular hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m Sunday. They are closed on Saturday.
UCBJ File photo.
Copyright 2025 The Upper Cumberland Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Other stories you may want to check out:
