Maybe I Could Sell Ice Cream?
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (109499)
United States
September 1, 2025 6:20pm CST
Sometimes you just roll ideas around in your head, and when you do, you're never being serious necessarily. It's just the way the mind works sometimes when you ask yourself, what do I want to do and how might I get there?
My wife and I currently make plenty of income from investments we made years ago. But as I always say about money, there is never a such thing as enough. If there's another way to make money, why not make it?
There's an ice cream shop down the street run by an elderly couple. It runs from around April through until about October, and I thought, well, one day they will be too old and want to retire completely, and that place will probably go up for sale.
It does a good business during the months it operates.
What if when they decided to pack it in eventually, we bought the place and ran it through the summer months? During the winter months, as our plan is to eventually become snowbirds in the winter in Florida, we could take the proceeds and just have more fun and more flexibility. And we'd still have something to do during the summer while we spent it where we currently live.
We don't need to work. It would be time consuming. But like I said, sometimes you just roll ideas around. Could owning an ice cream stand be fun? I know it would be profitable. Could we add to the menu to include maybe brats and hot dogs and boost revenue?
I don't know. What say you. What would you think about an idea like this? I am not bored in retirement, but I do miss the challenges of my former sales job sometimes. This would certainly be a challenge and something new and maybe even fun and exciting.
12 people like this
11 responses
@porwest (109499)
• United States
2 Sep
Well, of course. I know a little about business, so of course I'd have to see balance sheets, profit and loss statements and a variety of other things to understand the viability of the current business as well as examine area demographics such as daily street traffic counts, costs of ingredients and other factors. I am not sure I'd really want to do it. I have always been more of a passive investor than one who actually wants to run a business. But the idea still gets tossed around in my head from time to time.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (7443)
• United States
2 Sep
Several decades ago, I dropped everything and opened a bakery type store. I went into business blind to the realities of running a business, the initial costs to open it and the licenses, permits and food handlers certificate. There were four of us. Everything was split 4 ways. We found a spot and signed a six month lease, paid the insurance, rented equipment, got the business license and local permit.
As we moved equipment in, the place was finally taking shape. We started with fudge and cookies and were getting ready for breads. Our display case was filled and we planned on opening a day later.
Then, just before the end of the day, a county inspector appeared and walked in like they owned the place. They had issues with our mixers and ovens and dishwasher. Our storage was too close to the ovens, underneath the front counter was also storage and also a no-no.
We were effectively red tagged and couldn't afford the modifications needed to make products in-store.
Almost all of our savings were invested into a store that we couldn't sell from.
We got pretty drunk that night.
The next day, called the city, county and state to see if we could be approved to sell if we didn't make the product in the store.
They all said we were good to go. We called our suppliers and they took back our ingredients for the cost of a restocking fee.
We took what was left and hit the grocery stores and bought cookies, pies, cakes, breads and filled our display cases. We had to leave the product in the original containers because we couldn't handle it without a handlers permit.
After four weeks of very few customers and product that expired, we decided to call it quits. We got some money and deposits back from the equipment but we each lost about 6k in 1979 dollars, 27k today. Two of my partners left Key West and headed back to Minnesota. I stayed with my friend and we became beach bums for the summer. We eventually headed back home in the fall.
The most expensive tan I ever got.
Also, a big lesson too.
Think things through.
I don't know enough about the specifics of the place you're considering but as you already know, there are many many things that will cost you to get it up and running.
I assume equipment will remain if you take over, so that's a huge expense you won't have to worry about.
If I could do it right now, I would love to run a small shop of some sort. I would just do more homework before I committed.
3 people like this
@cabuyogty (4460)
• Philippines
2 Sep
Your business looks good. It's. still good that you can earn some money in your retirement.
3 people like this
@cabuyogty (4460)
• Philippines
3 Sep
@porwest I believe in that motivation too. I'm also a store owner that can sell grocery products.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (5862)
• United Kingdom
3 Sep
If it occupies your time and makes you money I say go for it ….
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (203591)
• United States
2 Sep
I wouldn't want to be on my feet all day. I rolled around the idea of starting a mini takeout restaurant. Too much time on my feet.
2 people like this
@porwest (109499)
• United States
4 Sep
There does come a time when some things are good ideas, but not entirely practical. And unfortunately, starting a business takes years before it's able to run itself and you can just be in the back office counting the money and handling payroll.
2 people like this
@Kusumakrishna (852)
•
10 Sep
It is always certain to do what you believe.Don't mind how others feel unless it harms/ loss to them or disturbs them.Anything out of hardwork is always encourageable.congrats for your idea..hope you execute it soon
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.1 person likes this
@Kusumakrishna (852)
•
10 Sep
@porwest
Thats why Ignore.but make sure everything is going perfect.
1 person likes this
@Utami_kanthi (57)
• Indonesia
9 Sep
Yes sir , you can it , i believe your As good businessman
1 person likes this
@porwest (109499)
• United States
9 Sep
@Utami_kanthi I would write up a business plan and gather up some investors to take up a 49% stake in the business and then seed the remaining 51% needed to maintain a controlling stake in the business.
@Utami_kanthi (57)
• Indonesia
9 Sep
@porwest the sound is good sir , how to do it sir ?
1 person likes this
