BY AMANDA RENKO (STAFF WRITER)
PUBLISHED: JUNE 20, 2012 – FROM HTTP://THETIMES-TRIBUNE.COM/
Bringing smiles back to Athens, one scoop at a time.
That’s the business plan of eight-year-old Jack Henry Barrett, who opened up an Italian ice cart in Teaoga Square in Athens Borough last week with the help of his father, Ed Barrett Jr.
Jack Frost Ice, which features Little Jimmy’s Italian ice products, came about after the Barretts – including Jack’s mother Deanna, who owns the nearby Urban Connection salon – wanted to find another way to bring people back to the recovering business district hit hard by flooding in September. It seems to be working, Ed Barrett said.
“So far, it’s been a great response,” he said, adding that the business already has “a lot of repeat customers in such a short time” since the stand opened for business last Wednesday.
Jack “has been a businessman since he could count change,” Barrett said. With the help of his father, family friend Mary Johnston and other adults, Jack scoops the ice, stocks supplies and keeps the stand clean.
The Barretts decided to purchase a Little Jimmy’s italian ice cart because of its low overhead and to fill a need left open this summer with the fate of nearby D and R Ice Cream in question after the flood, Barrett said. The Athens borough council granted the Barretts permission to serve the frozen treats in the square last week.
The stand will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, weather permitting, Barrett said. The Barretts plan to serve ice during the square’s special events, including the borough’s special concert series. The cart may also travel to other locations, such as the farmer’s market held on Fridays in Howard Elmer Park in Sayre, Barrett said.
The cart can hold four flavors at a time, Barrett said, with the varieties changing daily. The stand also sells a selection of miniature Major League Baseball team helmets that can be refilled with ice throughout the season at a discount, he said.
Flavors range from the traditional – blueberry, cherry, chocolate – to fruit flavors, bubble gum and root beer.
“There’s a flavor for everyone,” Barrett said.
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/athens-boy-opens-italian-ice-stand-1.1332227
Here’s the video of Jack also!
Review Photo/Amanda Renko Jack Henry Barrett, 8, is operating Jack Frost Ice in Athens’ Teaoga Square with the help of his father, Ed Barrett Jr.
