BY LAUREN MATTHEW
Staff Writer for The Islander
printed July 25, 2003

LAVALLETTE - From the red and white checkerboard-tiled floor to the singing servers' saddle shoes and bow ties, the Music Man Ice Cream Shoppe, Grand Central Avenue, Lavallette, is big on fun and nostalgia.

The Music Man features homemade ice cream, daily Vaudeville-style performances and the atmosphere of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.

"We felt Lavallette needed something the entire family could do," said owner and emcee Robert Agliata, who is known as Aggie Roberts at show time.

The shop opened Memorial Day weekend and had a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 20.

For Agliata and his wife, Josephine Sessa-Agliata, ice cream is a tradition. "

Josephine's grandparents had a similar shop in Brooklyn," Agliata said. "People get the same feeling here as there."

The Music Man offers menu items such as old-style malts and egg creams as well as classic sundaes such as the Chubby Checker - vanilla ice cream with a buttermilk waffle and hot fudge. Be warned, though. If you order that sweet treat, your server will make you do the twist. (You can get revenge by asking what flavors of ice cream the shop offers - the server will have to sing "The Music Man Can-Can," a song that lists each confection.)

The nightly cabaret, which runs every evening from 6 p.m. to midnight, consists of classic Broadway songs sung as solos, duets and group acts. Every performance features a different staffer, Agliata said. "Customers don't see the same show twice," he added.

Each cabaret lasts about 20 minutes, Agliata said, and then the ice cream shop empties out for a new audience. Agliata said the best time to see the show is early. "At 6, there's never a wait," he said.

There is no charge for the show, but there is a $4 minimum per table during the performance. The cabarets run through the end of September.

The Music Man also hosts a children's story hour each Wednesday and Thursday at 5 p.m., during which staff members act out fairy tales with the help of the audience. August's story time lineup offers "The Wizard of Oz" on Thursdays and "Snow White," "Cinderella" or "Pinocchio" on Wednesdays. There is a $6 charge for the story hour, which does not include ice cream.

Tickets for the story hour should be purchased in advance at the take-out window, Agliata said.

"Story hours have sold out," he explained.

On rainy days, ice cream lovers can call the Music Man's hot line, (732) 85 HAPPY (854-2779), and ask if Rainy Day Matinees are running at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The shop also hosts private birthday parties.

The Music Man's six staff members (not including Aggie Roberts) are all aspiring performers who sing six nights a week at their job. Agliata said they were found through an audition process that spanned the East Coast. "We got over 50 tapes for six positions," Agliata said.

The Agliatas also run an "Enjoy life, enjoy Lavallette" campaign.

"We have a character (in the show) called Fred," Agliata said. "Fred" stands for "feel right every day."

"Both the enjoy life idea and the shows create a family atmosphere," Agliata explained. "We're very excited about how the seaside community, especially Lavallette, has embraced us," he added.

The Music Man take-out window is open daily from noon to midnight through Labor Day. The shop will offer private parties only after the summer is over. The Music Man only accepts cash for payment. For details, call (732) 85 HAPPY.