Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
8000 Fair Oaks Pkwy | Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015 | (210) 474-0087
How does it feel winning the BEST OF this year?
It feels tremendous of course and is an affirmation that we are succeeding in creating the unique small-town ice cream shop that was our goal when we started planning this venture in 2017. It is also humbling and sets a target to sustain and improve what we do going forward.
What do you credit for your victory?
Success starts with knowing what you want to accomplish and staying true to that vision. Customers want that in any business they patronize. In our case the vision was small batch ice cream with the highest quality ingredients, old school flavors as well as innovative flavors that on site production makes possible, great customer service and a fun family oriented environment. We have to give credit to our customers many of whom understand this is their ice cream shop. They participate in our social media and introduce us to their friends who otherwise might not find us in our out of the way (but great) location. Family is a must mention too with brothers, sisters, nieces, and children who have actively supported our success.
What separates you from your competition?
The ice cream and frozen yogurt shops in the Hill Country are all very different and frankly wonderful in their own right. What makes us special is the combination of several factors. It starts with a focus on onsite small batch production of ice cream to include alcohol infused flavors and many unique rotating flavors as well as superior traditional flavors. Then the ownership team and family bring their own flair to the Parker’s magic. Richard has fun thinking of new sorbets, sherbets and is a fanatic about quality vanilla extract. Andrea continually thinks about new flavors the kids would enjoy as well as special chocolate flavors. Richard’s sister, Janice, has also developed some of our most popular rotational flavors to include “Cherries Jubilee”.
How have you managed to navigate 2020?
We have not done it alone. The Hill Country Community supports all local businesses and for that we are very thankful. Our landlord, John and Tammy Hillcoat, have been a tremendous help starting with letting us use the complex’s golf-cart parking lot to spread out our patio furniture for social distancing. We also have great employees which is a huge part of our success in normal times but even more critical in what is a most challenging business year. Beyond that, like many small businesses the key has been to keep a positive attitude and look for ways to adapt such as converting space for indoor seating to our pint and quart to-go freezers as well as expanding flavors available to go has helped us during these unusual times.
What is next for your business? Future plans or growth?
First and always we will put our energy in keeping the love going in our Hill Country location with our small batch old school ice cream and community spirit. We do get asked about opening other locations and expanding is a possibility in the future. If we do we will keep the same community based concept. Once we get back to some form of normalcy, we will see what the future holds for us.
What are your biggest challenges for 2021?
The obvious challenge will be the Pandemic and uncertainty which comes with changing rules and regulations. Our goal is to provide a safe and fun atmosphere where our community can come and relax as a family during the day or hang out in the evening with friends to share some treats or a drink while watching the sunset. It goes without saying that one of the most fun challenges is coming up with and rotating our flavors for both adult, family friendly and kid flavors to keep everyone happy. We usually have at least 20 or more new recipes we want to try. So keep eating and we will keep making new flavors!!!
What would you like to say to the readers that voted for you?
We want to thank the readers that voted for all of the businesses in our category and not just us. We each have a slightly different take on the ‘frozen dessert shop’ niche and each one of us does a great job providing something for the Hill Country. Community is essential to Parker’s to include feedback such as Explore’s “Best Of”. We strive to listen to the community and some of our most popular flavors have been on the recommendation of a customer. Thank you for your continued support of local small businesses. We appreciate you!!!
