Today we’d like to introduce you to William Ellenberger.
Hi William, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in the U.S. Army and then worked as a police officer with the NYPD up until I was injured in the line of duty. It was then that my wife and I made the decision to move from NY to NC and have lived here for over 12 years now. I worked for my cousin at his car dealership and then did maintenance at different apartment buildings but it was just work and paid the bills. Four years ago I got the opportunity to buy an ice cream truck and business and happily gave my notice at work and dedicated my time to making a good business a great business. My wife and two sons were by my side and worked along side me in the truck and behind the scenes. In four ice cream seasons we have grown our business and learned so much and made so many new friends along the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel very blessed that the community embraced us and was happy to add us to their weekly routine. There was definitely a learning curve with trying to juggle requests from people wanting us to come by their neighborhood. We are a family run business so learning to work as a team was important. There were definitely some bumps in the road working with my teenage sons all week, most teenagers don’t live in out their boss and vice versa! However, the growth I have seen in them over the years was all with it.
We’ve been impressed with Mr Freeze , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mr. Freeze is a veteran and family owned and operated ice cream truck. We sell ice cream novelties, nostalgic favorites like strawberry shortcake bars, fudge bars and bomb pops. We also sell “face bars” like Spider-Man and SpongeBob. Also on the truck we carry water and soda, chips and candy. We come around to surrounding neighborhoods starting late Spring through the beginning of Fall. We also specialize events such as birthday parties, catered events, employee appreciation and summer camps: For many of our customers our truck has been their child’s or in some cases their own experience with a mobile ice cream truck. Growing up in NY the ice cream man was a summer staple, and the music would immediately send you running to collect loose change or busting into your piggy bank! Being an “ice cream man” isn’t just about selling ice cream, it’s a whole experience we are providing. My hope is that we are creating memories for families and that children will grow up and tell their kids about the excitement they experienced one day. We love to hear the excitement in the adult’s voices that come to the truck, whether it’s their first time seeing an ice cream truck in their neighborhood or the experience is one of nostalgia, everyone is a kid when they come up to the Mr Freeze window! I am beyond blessed to make a living while also making memories with our wonderful community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if I would call it luck, but rather it was timing. I was happy doing maintenance work for awhile, it provided for my family and I enjoyed talking to the residents that lived there, but it was difficult with my work injury and I missed so much family time. I was starting to feel discouraged when the opportunity to purchase the business presented itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mrfreezetruck.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrfreezenc?igsh=MWd0N29pb3ljNDJoZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EWV5NhEHb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
