Take a Chill: Ole Brook Snow Cone and Snack Stand now open
Published 12:44 pm Wednesday, April 19, 2023
BROOKHAVEN — Ole Brook Snow Cone and Snacks owner Beth Hutchinson carried five bags of granulated sugar inside Wednesday morning. Tuesday afternoon was a rush of business as Hutchinson moved from window to window filling orders.
“We ran out of sugar yesterday, it was our busiest day,” she said. A rush of patrons started around 2 p.m. and kept the stand busy until 7. Usually, the stand sees a slow down around 6:30 and the staff start working on their closing duties but Tuesday was five hours of steady customers.
Located at 764 Industrial Park Road NE, the stand officially opened nine days ago and is in full swing. Hutchinson said it has been an incredible experience running the business so far and the sun filled Tuesday was their first summer like day.
“We have already had several repeat customers who come here every day. It gets busier every day. We love the excitement,” Hutchinson said. “It has opened smoothly. Our staff is still learning the quick pace of things. Several of our employees have never worked anywhere before so they are learning how to be quick and efficient and how to practice customer service.”
Hutchinson’s children work in the stand with her each afternoon. They attend the Reading Nook Academy right across the street. She said they have a few other workers who are in high school.
Ole Brook’s Snow Cones and Snacks offers a wide variety of flavors and soft snow like ice. Hutchinson said the soft ice mixed with cream flavors taste like homemade ice cream. Patrons have a selection of 34 flavors to choose from.
Strawberry Cheesecake is one of the best selling flavors and an array of clear and sugar free flavors have done well too, Hutchinson said. Her favorite flavor is plain cheesecake while her husband enjoys the Root Beer flavor. Some people are mixing the flavors into wild combinations, she said.
Popcorn is one of the best selling snacks too. She said they hope to add savory nachos and supper foods such as hot dogs or hamburgers.
“We hope to start that eventually but we are still learning the snow cone business,” Hutchinson said. “We will eventually bring in scoopable blue bell ice cream. We are figuring things out like what times I need to have people here. Our busiest times have been from 2 to 6:30 p.m.”
They buy ice locally. She said they serve people going out to events at Lincoln County Civic Center including t-ball players and the surrounding neighborhoods. Ole Brook Snow Cones and Snacks will eventually celebrate a grand opening with a day of fun.
The stand is open Monday through Tuesday from 11a.m. to 7p.m., on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 4p.m. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.