Last summer, Paradise Beach resident Diana Lott was vacationing at the beach with her family – husband Josh and children LJ, Lila and Hudson – when they came across a fun, unique-looking snowball stand. “As we drove by, we started talking and dreaming about how cool it would be to have something like that in Pasadena. It wasn’t just a snowball stand; it had a fun-loving beach vibe and we were all about it,” said Lott.
Lott, who has been an accountant for over a decade, got to thinking about how the family could bring their dream to life. “My husband owns and operates Magothy Motorcars, and they just moved to a new location [8890 Fort Smallwood Road],” she explained. With the new property in mind, the Lotts came up with the plan to locate their snowball stand directly next to Magothy Motorcars. The location – across from the Citgo and behind Fifer’s Seafood – features ample parking and a picnic table.
What makes Magothy Ice Co. unique, Lott shared, is that they sell Hawaiian-shaved ice, not snowballs. “What sets us apart from the others in the area is the consistency of the ice. Our snowball is soft and fluffy, no need to break it apart with your spoon just to eat it. The texture is like you walked outside and ate some freshly fallen snow in winter,” she described.
Currently, Magothy Ice Co. offers three sizes – small, medium and large. “We have around 30 flavors currently and tend to pick up new ones every couple of weeks depending on what our customers are asking for. Of course we have marshmallow for the top, but we have also picked up some sweet cream topping just like they serve in Hawaii,” said Lott.
Lott also noted that because it is Hawaiian-shaved ice, the process of making each one takes a bit longer than it does compared to a normal snowball. “Our employees are learning and doing a great job,” added Lott. “We apologize if your wait time is longer than expected at times but please know they are trying their best.”
So far, Lott emphasized that the most rewarding part of operating Magothy Ice Co. has been watching it grow over the past month. “More people are hearing about us and agree that we needed a stand on our side of Pasadena,” she said. “We have so many people come to the stand and tell us their friend or neighbor told them about us. It feels great that people are enjoying it so much that they are telling their friends.”
Magothy Ice Co. is located at 8890 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena. Their prices are $3.25 for a small, $4.25 for a medium, and $5.25 for a large. They are open throughout the summer Monday through Saturday 1:00pm-9:00pm, and are closed on Sundays.
To find out more about Magothy Ice Co. and stay up to date on business information, visit their Facebook page.
