Andrea and Chris Briley admit to being “overly excited” about reopening Supertam on Route 66 – and they’re not the only ones.

It was a loss for Carterville when Larry Tamminen announced earlier this year that he would be closing the unique ice cream store that causes customers local and international love to stop at while they’re traveling Route 66. 

Besides the ice cream, they stop to see Tamminen’s eye-popping collection of every item possible associated with Superman.

Andrea Briley says she was saddened to see the store was closing. She drives by it often going to and from Carterville Elementary School, where she is a special education teacher. And she has taken her students to the store.

Andrea and Chris decided to make Tamminen an offer to buy the store and Superman collection.

Tamminen says he’s happy the store is living on as he intended to honor his passions, Carterville, Route 66 and Superman.

Carterville’s park committee arranged for the ribbon-cutting celebration Saturday.

Mayor Alan Griffin mentioned what a big day it was for Carterville as he presided over the ribbon-cutting. 

Among the crowd of well-wishers was Tamminen. He started Supertam on Route 66 (initially Superman before he was forced to change it) in a building that had first been built next to the former H&W Market for storage. Tamminen’s sister, Brenda Hulderman, had the building moved across Main Street (Route 66) and operated a hair styling salon in it for many years.

Also present was Jeremy Morris, a resident of another Route 66 attraction east of Carthage, Red Oak II.

Andrea Briley says her family has received a lot of support from Carterville residents and the Route 66 Community, such as Morris.

“Everybody loves Route 66, and we do, too,” she says.

They’re already working on stopping even more Route 66 travelers by making the old streetcar that Tamminen moved in next to the building more suitable for indoor dining.

The Brileys have three kids, Kayln, Montana and Andrew, and a foreign exchange daughter, Emma, who are also excited about operating Supertam. Through the week it opens at 4 p.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. Friday. Weekend hours are noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.