Published: June 20, 2008 09:23 am            

Chill Out is in

Father-son team open mobile ice cream business

Click here to see the June 21, 2008 Neighbors section in its entirety


By Bobbie Poynter, Community Editor

Sometime in the early 1990s Navy Air Controller Master Chief Rick Harris sat talking with his men about his pending retirement. When his men asked him what his plans were after he retired, he was quick to respond. For Rick Harris, that was an easy one.

“I’m gonna buy me an ice cream truck and sell ice cream to all the kids in the neighborhood.”

Fourteen some odd years later...

As the familiar (but corny) calliope tunes of the ice cream truck preceded it into the Corbin Manor subdivision, kids came running from all directions, each carefully tracking the big green van’s progress. From their frantic movements, it was plain to see each child was hoping that, regardless of where the van stopped, he could be at the right place to get head-of-line privileges for one of the sweet, cool and creamy treats that only the ice cream man has to offer.

Although Rick Harris, 53, toyed with the idea of driving an ice cream truck all those many years ago, it was his son, and now business partner, Shaun, 30, who actually brought Chill Out to light.

In October 2007, Shaun Harris, also a retired Navy air controller, was watching a Food Network TV show, which featured a segment on old fashioned ice cream vending trucks still in business. Shaun brought up the idea of going into the ice cream business with his dad and, after some lengthy discussion and Internet research, the two men decided to give it a try.

The father-and-son team visited Hometown Bank, where they pitched their business venture to the executive vice-president, Don Ashley, who readily agreed that a roving ice cream vendor was just what this area needed.

In March 2008, the men found what they considered the ideal vehicle on e-Bay, a 1970s converted delivery van in Michigan. After a bit of friendly wheeling and dealing, the men talked the owner down from $50,000 to $30,000.

The irony of the situation was not lost on the two men as they realized they were driving an ice cream truck back to Kentucky in the middle of a winter snowstorm.

“We’re the only two nuts I know who would drive through a snowstorm to pick up an ice cream truck,” said Rick.

“And if that didn’t beat all,” added Shaun, “the minute we got the van home, before we even had the chance to park it, imagine our surprise when a couple of guys began pecking on the window wanting to buy ice cream. We were shocked. Imagine someone wanting to buy ice cream in the middle of a snowstorm!”

Both men admit they had no idea there were so many subdivisions in the Corbin area until they began randomly taking roads between the housing areas they already knew. Their original plans included deliveries throughout the Tri-County; however, they are being kept so busy here in Corbin, as yet they’ve been unable to get far from home.

“The very first time we pulled up to a baseball tournament at Rotary Park, we were held there for over an hour and a half before they finally let us go,” said Rick. “But, we’re not complaining. The whole idea is to sell it and go replenish it.”

Today, the men’s biggest decisions are which subdivisions to hit next and where the safest place is to park their van.

“Safety is absolutely essential because of the kids,” said Shaun. “Occasionally, we see people trying to wave us down, and we have no choice but to pass them up. The few times that happens is because we’re on a busy, narrow or hilly street and we have to think of their safety, as well as our own. We need clearance to see all around us in order to keep the children safe.”

Even with the skyrocketing cost of gas — the van costs $150 in fuel every four days — the men do all they can do keep the cost of Chill Out’s novelties to a minimum. They buy all of their supplies in bulk from Southern Belle in London, who gives them an extra discount because they pick up all of their inventory rather than having it delivered. (Or to be more precise, their wives pick up the Chill Out supplies while the men are still at work on their regular jobs.)

“This is definitely turning into a family business,” said Shaun, whose wife, Lana, plans to ride with him sometime in the future. Rick’s wife, Beulah has already taken a turn riding with her husband, and his 16-year-old son Kyle plans to help out on the routes during the summer.

All of Chill Out’s treats range from $1 for the regular size creamy vanilla, chocolate or swirl soft-serve ice cream cones to $2.25 for the larger novelty items. There are even one-inch ice cream cones presented with an understanding smile to the mamas carrying babies on their hips.

The men have no doubt their business will continue to grow. Even though they have only been delivering for less than a month, word is spreading fast throughout the communities.

“We don’t have to go looking for business,” said Rick. “The truck sells itself. There’s always someone out there looking for us. We even had one guy who chased us all the way from the Tri-County Square to Deer Creek just to buy two vanilla ice cream cones.”

Rick and Shaun are hoping to eventually make their big green Chill Out ice cream truck a familiar sight at local events throughout the Tri-County. Because Chill Out is a local vendor, the men say they will never charge the higher prices of out-of-town vendors. They say they are, after all, selling to their own neighbors and friends.

Chill Out will also be available for birthday parties or to help local churches, schools and organizations with their upcoming fundraising events, which could include everything from car washes to crafts festivals. Recently, Chill Out helped a local church raise money to send its girls to summer camp by donating 10 percent of the day’s sales.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Shaun. “We’re still learning how far the business can take us.”

“We’ve received nothing but a great reception everywhere we go,” said Rick. “That’s not a surprise. After all, ice cream puts a smile on everybody’s face.”



Rick Harris lives in Woodbine with his wife, Beulah, and son Kyle.

He currently works for Homeland Security. He is also the owner of NAV-VET (short for Navy veteran) Trucking, which still has vehicles in Mississippi helping to remove leftover debris from Katrina.

Shaun Harris lives in Corbin with his wife Lana, 2-year-old daughter Olivia, and 9-month-old daughter Lilly. He works for the Kentucky Consulate Center in Williamsburg as a contractor for SI International.



You can contact Chill Out by calling Rick Harris at 620-7045 or Shaun Harris at 620-7044, or e-mail rickharris39@hotmail.com.

        

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