Fresno couple asking for help to bring ice cream shop to Tower District

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno couple wants to bring a gourmet ice cream shop to the Tower District, but they're asking for the community's help.

Jeff and Amelia Bennett will be opening "Ampersand." The name is a play on the "&" symbol and stands for where ice cream and community meet. They've been brainstorming new and familiar flavor ideas, including rocky road, strawberry balsamic and whiskey caramel swirl. The couple has been perfecting recipes in their home kitchen and created a Kickstarter campaign to try to raise $20,000 in funding.

Jeff Bennett explained their motivation: "Us being the Central Valley, we have so many resources and so many things that go into ice cream, including dairy, we thought why isn't there a local incorporating those ingredients into an ice cream shop."

So far they've raised just over $8,000 with only five days left in their campaign. The Bennets have already secured a location at the former "PDQ" location across from Fresno High. They're opening date will be in the spring of 2015.

Click here to visit Ampersand's Kickstarter page.