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Hi everyone! I recently moved to Charlotte from Maryland and the lack of snowball stands is so weird! It's a little late this season but I was thinking of looking into starting a stand somewhere the beginning of next spring. I know the overhead is much lower than most businesses and with the heat I could easily keep it opened almost 3/4 of the year I believe. I am just in the beginning stages of throwing this idea around, so my questions to you...
1. Does anyone know of any in the area, maybe I am just missing all the good spots?
2. Where would you suggest opening one? Side of the road, near a gas station, somewhere with lots of foot traffic? (i'm not too familiar with the area yet so this would be a big help)
3. Specific location? university area, huntersville, lake norman etc.
4. Do you think from living here previously this may be a lucrative business venture? (not looking to make millions but absolutely would like to be profitable : )
5. Any problems I may not be aware of that I can run into? (laws and things such as that)
Any suggestions/responses are greatly appreciated! I'm a recent college grad and having no luck finding a job so I thought maybe I should take a leap and make one for myself! Thanks!
do you mean Italian Ice? There are a few Rita Ice's and mexicans are always walking around with the carts...
I still think you could make some money though if you found a nice area. Noda Area? Might be a little expensive uptown but I think you would do well on the weekends.
Also look into parks and recreation or areas with tons of "foot traffic" which is actually hard to find in Charlotte.
Sorry I cannot give you any business advice about this (know nothing about this type of business).
But I salute you and wish best of luck to all entrepreneurs!
I think more of us should be willing to think for themselves and try to get a business started, instead of complaining and feeling miserable for not landing a job...
In whatever city you choose, you will need to get a permit and they could tell you of restrictions or direct you to the department that will inform you. You could also set up shop in front of a Walmart. I know I seen vendors out there before. Of course then you will need permission of any business too.
I guess I should have clarified, I want to do shaved ice. This would be ice shaved from an ice block which produces fine, soft, fluffy ice as opposed to a snocone which is ice cubes that are crushed into smaller pellets and is very crunchy. I think those are harder to eat and less enjoyable.
Oh, yeah! There used to be a truck off of Central Avenue (iirc), they *always* had a line! Of course, their flavors weren't just artificial syrup, they were made with real fruit juice, no high fructose corn syrup. They had the BEST flavor combinations, and I LOVED the snowy texture. I miss them! I do think you could do very well here.
People would drive to get to the shaved ice place I'm thinking of - wish I could remember exactly where it was! They had the option of adding sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk... yum. There wasn't a whole lot of foot traffic - but I think, to start out, you'd want the crowds and foot traffic. You will need to get a permit, for sure, no matter where you set up.
That's one thing I found odd when we moved to Maryland a few years back. The people up there had these shaved ice stands EVERYWHERE. I couldn't beleive it.
My family used to make trips up to the North Side of Pittsburgh to get these when I was a child. We called them snow cones but they were shaved from a block of ice.
In my opinion you need to be a people person and love kids if you want to start a business like this... I know Freedom Park has a few vendors but I think there is enough room for a car of some sort. That would be a prime location.
Also look into the greenway by the metro... they get nice crowds on the weekend.
There is a snowball place on 29 N Tryon near the Super Wal Mart.
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