The Timmerman Building could be home to a new business by the summer of 2018.

Milky Moo’s, a homemade ice cream business, is looking to lease the bottom floor of the Timmerman building. Members of the Andalusia City Council had the first reading of an ordinance setting up a lease agreement Tuesday night. The city acquired the building, also known as the First National Bank building, about Jan. 1, 2017.

Milky Moo’s operates locations in Enterprise, Ozark and Headland.

While their specialty is ice cream, the business also offers cupcakes, cakes, ice cream cakes, candies, soups, sandwiches, salads, wraps and hotdogs. Johnson said the owner of Milky Moo’s was interested in locating in Andalusia before the city acquired the property, and wanted to move here last year. However, a health issue delayed her plans.

“This is an exciting announcement,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “We’re going to be putting a commercial business in a building that’s been sitting mostly empty for at least 30 years.”

“I’m excited about the company and what it will bring to the downtown area. It will be good business and good for our downtown development.”

Johnson said the restaurant complements what is already available downtown. The Andalusia location should open roughly in midsummer, by July 1st.

“This is a good start on the redevelopment of the downtown area. I think this business will fit in very well with our other businesses,” Johnson said.

The ordinance will likely be approved at the council’s next meeting, set for Tues., Feb. 20.