The Blue Hole Market

When Cindy Thompson and her husband, Rob, first considered investing in Bauxite, she noticed a small but powerful detail.

“In my time traveling in and out of Bauxite and then moving here, there’s this little patch of gravel along the highway,” she said. “There were always farmers out here selling tomatoes and watermelons. And I said to my husband, ‘Okay, yeah. We can do this.’

“I also believed we needed to give something back to those who’d spent all those years selling their goods out in front of the school and the Post Office.”

That idea helped spark the Bauxite Depot, a project with co-investors Eddie and Cheryl Jones that includes a pavilion for community events, a replica of the town’s original depot, and spaces for small businesses. 

Cindy’s contribution became The Blue Hole Market & Creamery, which opened May 20.

From Idea to Ice Cream

Cindy admits the shop wasn’t part of the original plan. “My husband wanted me to put a business in, and we talked about many different things we thought would go over well in Bauxite and landed on an ice cream shop.”

Even though the Thompson’s landed on a sweet concept, Cindy insisted it reflect her values. “I guess I’m what younger people call ‘crunchy,’” she said with a laugh. 

“I wanted to make sure our food was all natural, with no chemicals included.”

But the prospect of “healthy” ice cream wasn’t enough for Cindy. “Over seventy-five percent of everything we do and serve is either going to be good for the environment, compostable, or good for the body. Too much sugar is not the greatest thing, but at least their kids aren’t also getting artificial dyes or flavorings.”

Inside The Blue Hole, the atmosphere feels as intentional as the menu. “We have a little sitting area with a couch, a couple of soft ottomans, and a couple of chairs where people can put their feet up and read a book or the kids can color,” she said. “We also have a small gathering space in the back where people can have birthday parties or meetings.”

In its short life, The Blue Hole is already playing an unexpected role within the community. “There was a car accident out front (yesterday),” Cindy said. “We were able to get to those young people in and calm them down. I’m sure it was traumatic.

“Both of them came back in (this morning) to see me and thank our store for what little we did. We didn’t do much, but things like that make everything so worth it.”

Growing Sweet
on the Community

Cindy and The Blue Hole are also making it a point to reach out to those making a huge difference with Saline County children. “We just started our first delivery to Pine Haven teachers who can’t make it here because they’re busy getting their classrooms ready. So, to make sure they know we care, we delivered breakfast and coffees and other drinks.”

And when it comes to her fellow Bauxite Depot businesses, Cindy stresses the need for them to all collaborate closely. “We’ve become this great little community, and we all work together to help one another. Beginning the second week of September, we’ll start our Second Saturday event, where we’ll open a farmers’ market, and we’re also planning on having live music.

“We’re planning a pumpkin patch in October, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be here for Christmas tree lighting in December.”

A Personal Journey Toward Health

Cindy’s focus on natural products has roots in her own life. “It’s something that really started being a part of who I am about 10 years ago,” she said. “I was in the corporate world, traveling a lot and working long hours while raising four children. We just did what everybody else was doing when it came to eating on the run.

“When I became more educated, especially when we started having grandchildren, I wanted to be a part of that change,” she added.

That new way of healthy living shows up in everything The Blue Hole serves. 

“For example, we’ll serve pizza bites, but ours are homemade on organic sourdough, using an organic sauce and uncured, undyed, real pepperoni,” she said. “They’re chemical free, and everybody just loves them. “

Blue Skies Ahead

Wanting to be a part of Bauxite’s revitalization is what drove Cindy and Rob Thompson to invest in the community, and they kow their journey has only begun.

“We’re a modern take on that old-fashioned general store where mom could come in and get flour and beans, dad would sit and play checkers, and the kids would get the penny candy. That’s the feel I want people to sense when they walk in here.”

In just a few months, The Blue Hole Market & Creamery has become more than a place for ice cream. It’s a gathering spot and a celebration of local life. And for Cindy, “It’s becoming exactly what I envisioned.”

The Blue Hole Market & Creamery is located at 7076 Bauxite Hwy, Ste. 8 in Bauxite. Their phone number is 501.539.6544.