New Waterfront Warehouse businesses offer a little bit of everything

An ice cream shop, a barber shop, a diner, and a fitness studio. 

These are some of the newest additions coming soon to the historic Waterfront Warehouse —home to Nena's Mexican Cuisine, this newspaper, and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. 

Here is what you should know about these new businesses. 

Peke’s Ice Cream

Peke’s Ice Cream is the newest and sweetest addition to the building.  

The family-owned business run by Ricardo De La Cruz Prado, 44, and Andrea De La Cruz, 42, opened its doors on Jan. 28 at 445 W Weber Ave Suite 142. 

The couple, inspired by their Mexican heritage, started their business selling home-made ice cream and paletas (Popsicles) at parks. The couple’s families both owned businesses in Mexico which influenced their business venture. 

De La Cruz, said her husband's father was a “paletero” or an ice cream man back in México and her family has worked in “abarrotes”or grocery stores for many years.

They moved from parks to their first ice cream shop just six years ago, where they opened at 7760 C. Brentwood Blvd., in Brentwood. They wanted to expand their brand and opened their second location in Stockton, a bigger city with a larger Latino community, she said.  

“Si vende uno en el invierno quiere decir en el tiempo de calor nos va a ir mejor,” De La Cruz Prado said about their decision of opening an ice cream shop in the wintertime. (If one sells in the winter, that means in hot weather season we will do even better.)

The Oakley residents not only sell their home-made nieve and paletas but also aguas frescas, esquites and platanos con chocolate (chocolate covered bananas.) De La cruz Prado said their Stockton business has done much better than their Brentwood location. He invites the community to stop by and try their goodies and be the judge for themselves.

For more information follow them on Instagram at pekesicecream.

Barber City 

A new barber shop is in town. With a grand opening and ribbon cutting on March 13, Barber City is officially open for cuts and fades. 

Rondell Dean, owner of Barber City, also owns Inspire Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology which is just a few stairs up on the second floor of the Waterfront Warehouse. Barber city is located at 445 W Weber Ave Suite 138.

Dean wasn't available for comment.  

For more information follow them on Instagram at stocktonbarbercity.

Chuck’s Hamburgers  

Chuck’s Hamburgers will soon be back in business at a new location at the Waterfront Warehouse.  

Hearty breakfasts and “Manhole Covers” will soon be devoured at 445 W Weber Ave Suite 126. The diner will take over the former soul food restaurant, Savoy’s Southern Soul. 

Read: “Stockton restaurant Chuck’s Hamburgers looking for new location; temporarily closes Saturday” 

Chuck's closed its doors at the Pacific Avenue Bowl at 5939 Pacific Ave., in January in search of a new home. The Waterfront Warehouse will soon be Chuck’s Hamburgers new and third home in history.  

Chuck’s Hamburgers expects to open mid-April.  

For more information follow them on Facebook at Chuck's Hamburgers.

The F.I.T. Me  

A new fitness studio will be coming to the Waterfront Warehouse this July. Lakeisha Little-Shaw, owner of The SHAW Bar is extending her health and wellness expertise from meals to workouts and mentorship.

Little-Shaw, 41, is bringing an 8-week fit mentorship program catered to those new to the fitness world or those who want to change it up a bit to suite 131. The program will provide nutritional classes, personal trainings and a mentor that will guide you to find your perfect fitness fit.

F.I.T. Me stands for "focused, inspired and transformed."

"The goal at the end of the 8-weeks is we hope that we were able to help you find the perfect fit on your fitness journey," Little-Shaw said.

There will be five spots for South Stockton residents at little to no cost in the 8-week program for them to participate. The cost of the program will be as low as $0 for South Stockton residents to $750 for the rest of the community. 

“I am located in South Stockton because ... there's food disparities, there is not much health and wellness options out here for individuals that live in South Stockton so we do have a portion of our classes so when they begin that are catered to individuals and residents of South Stockton. They will be free or low at cost,” Little-Shaw said.  

The fitness studio will have 22 mentors, 3 personal trainers and a pilates and yoga instructor.  

“I just want people to know that if they are on starting their fitness journey and they are lost and need somewhere to go and get a complete mentorship program our space is for you," Little-Shaw said. "So, there's no guessing, there's no injuries we want to keep you motivated so from start to finish we're there with you and by the time you are done with us you'll know exactly where you fit in the fitness world.”

For more information follow them on Instagram at thefitme209.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.