Business: Kona Ice of South Aurora
Address: Serving Aurora, Parker and parts of Centennial
Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. by appointment
Founded: 2016
Contact: 303-585-1222
Employees: 3
Interview with David Schow, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
:I was impacted by layoff last September in a field that I was in for 19 years. I was hitting road blocks with finding work, and so it got to the point where I said that I needed to figure out something different. I decided to retire and so I started looking into business ventures that I could be a part of. Kona Ice spoke to me on a very personal and positive level. I bought a truck and started researching available territories available in the Denver area to serve, and Aurora just kept popping out. The city is growing and it’s very diverse and interesting and my wife and I just thought that it was the right place to start building our business.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: The biggest thing the sets us apart from other food truck businesses is probably the entire presentation of the vehicle itself. It has a fun, colorful, exciting appeal. It’s very clean and when you go inside it’s unbelievably inviting. Also, the experience that we give people. I think folks really get a kick out of the fact that we hand them a cup of ice but then they get the enjoyment of filling it themselves with whatever flavors or amounts that they want. It’s just a fun experience and I think that’s what sets us apart more than anything
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: It’s hard to describe how amazing it is to drive into a place where there are kids and see the incredible joy and excitement they get from seeing the truck. You can just see in their eyes and their faces. They are just so happy and I love that. I drove through a neighborhood one time, and this mother and her daughter just fell in love with the truck and the little girl asked if I would come back to the area for her birthday party. You would have thought that she and I had known each other forever. She turned five and was telling everybody about Dave and Dave’s truck and was just so thrilled that I made it back for the party and could share that wither her family. It’s one of many impactful stories so far.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
:The biggest challenge is probably that this is more of a seasonal business. I’m not looking forward to the wintertime. I had an employee appreciation event the other day while it was raining and probably didn’t get as many customers as I would if the weather were different, but the people who came out were still very happy and in great spirits and having a lot of fun. Also, there are sometimes so many people who want me to show up to their even on the same day that I can’t make every event. I have two vehicles, but I am limited in how many places I can be in at any time.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: I’ve only been doing this since April, but I’ve already reached $2,500 in givebacks to the schools and different organizations in the community. I also think it’s important to understand the product itself. Because we’re putting syrup on a cup of ice, it’s often viewed as a very sugary, very sweet product. This year, we started using alternative, fruit-based sweetener, reducing the amount of sugar more than 70 percent compared to a basic syrup that was used in the past. It is also fortified with vitamins and potassium and things that children need for their growth and health. It has a smart snack-approved rating from the USDA and can be served in schools and trusted as a viable product for the community.