Fellow Italian Ice Biz Owners

Hi, still in planning stages but have gathered a lot of information from some very insightful people and wanted to make a post to get any others running or planning to run a similar business to bounce ideas off of. If currently operating or interested in the Italian Ice business (mine will be pushcart) feel free to contact me and we can help each other out with all aspects of starting , running and managing this business. Take care......Neil in Florida

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Originally posted by IceMan1969

Hi, still in planning stages but have gathered a lot of information from some very insightful people and wanted to make a post to get any others running or planning to run a similar business to bounce ideas off of. If currently operating or interested in the Italian Ice business (mine will be pushcart) feel free to contact me and we can help each other out with all aspects of starting , running and managing this business. Take care......Neil in Florida

Hello IceMan. I have one post nd received some good and insighful advice.
I am going to be operating an italian ice cart next year. I have all th equipment, nd my ice is in cold storage.
I am looking at local web sites and am starting to contact event coordintors to get into their evnts.
How are the health department rules in your area? One county hear just wanted hand washing capabilities on my cart. Well thats another $2-3K for an dd on. Another county wanted 3 sink capabilities.
Don't be discouraged. I found was to handle these issues to their satisfaction.
Don't ever get discouraged. Keep your dream alive.
I'll keep you posted on my progress. Plas keep me posted on yours. I'm defeninately interested.Good luck!

how can a hand washing sink be a 2 or 3 thousand add on? I see 300 or 400 max even having to do a fresh tank, waste tank, pump and sink and faucet.

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Originally posted by ReliantConcessions

how can a hand washing sink be a 2 or 3 thousand add on? I see 300 or 400 max even having to do a fresh tank, waste tank, pump and sink and faucet.

That was the exact same thing I said! Our ice carts are just 24x24x35 iceboxes on 8" wheels (push cart). Another cart is designed to hook up to this one with 4 sinks and all you listed. Anyway, I found a stand-alone hand sink that the local health guru would approve.

Here is a complete setup for $1100

http://cgi.ebay.com/Portable-Mobile-Concession-Cart-4-Sinks-HOT-WATER-NEW_W0QQitemZ230299495793QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

You can find just the sinks on Ebay for under $200 and build it yourself as well for much less

Hi, This is a great forum!  My sister and I are venturing into the Italian Ice push cart business, we could get it locally, but the man supplying us is very expensive. We would love to do Little Jimmy's, but we are a little concerned about cold storage prices.  Could you possibly give me a ball park on what cold storage will cost?? Thanks so much!

hey fellow Ice Man,  Jeff here in Western Colorado, saw your post a while back and wanted to wish you the best !
Been at it here since 1975, yeah I'am crazy!  Am not sure if you can link to my web-site www.aspensnowbetto.com and you can check Us out.   After all these years somehow I found this site and gotta tell ya' its  an invaluable resource.  If I had only had this when I started, I might have been fore-warned then,  to change professions!  I do not always  get on-line, and particularly when the season gets going, am not good at returning e-mails.  You will learn that there are actually 8 work daze a week(in season).  And as you may know, success 'only' comes with  Dreams, Enthusiasm, & Good Feet!   And by the way you will only be able to go fishin' on Mondays! 
                                                                                                                                                  BOL   'JefFreezZ'

Hi we are looking for an inexpensive batch freezer...any ideas or leads?


Thanks!

Hey guys, sorry this isn't really about this topic at all, but it is about italian ice. I am looking for an italian ice push cart, just wondering where you all got yours from, and how you like it. Thanks

Steve,  I see Batch freezers occasionally on Craigs List around here or e-Bay.  But you've got to watch out for the shipping cost.  I posted one on e-Bay a while back and shipping was 1/2 the cost of the unit.  They typically weigh  in at around 600-800 lbs.  Try to find one locally, and make sure you have plenty of help !    Jeff
 
p.s.  We do have an Electro-Freeze BB-100/20 qt./3-phase/water-cooled/its a work horse... but it ain't cheap...lets make a deal.

I got my cold plate pushcart from Custom Sales in NJ.  It arrived about two weeks ago.  I have not taken it out yet so I can't speak to the serving aspect.  The cold plates work great - still quite cold in there after being unplugged for 12+ hours.  I don't like the size and weight - I was not properly prepared (told I was getting a 300 lb cart but it shipped at almost 800 lbs); too much for one person to handle.  Good Luck!

Stephanie

Is it a requirement to have the cart? Seems like the Ice shaver itself is just as expensive as the "cart by itself" I want to do Snow Cones, what is the difference between Snow Cones and Italian Ice? What I mean by requirement is I would like to add this to my mobile food units. I already have the sinks and etc. Are you guys using the flavor station or do you prefer to put the flavors on your self?

Sno-cones are just sno-cones.  An Italian Ice is made more like ice-cream w/out the dairy.  It is manufactured in ice-cream machines(batch freezers).  Once it is held in a freezer to cure/harden, one can simply scoop it out into paper cups(traditonal).  Italian Ices can be made from a variety of ingredients, typically fruit/water-base, however no ice shavings or sugar syrup is used.  If done right it comes out and serves like a sorbet, theres really nothin' better on a hot afternoon!

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