What makes a city? For some, it's the big things, like political figures and corporations. For others, it's the details—like independent corner stores and italian ice shops. KC's Italian Ice of Lancaster just so happens to satisfy the palate on a personal scale.
Fred and Lynette Waller started KC's three summers ago. The shop is named after their two daughters, Kylee and Cheyanne, setting the family atmosphere in stone from the get-go. Lynette and Fred both grew up in Philadelphia before coming to Lancaster more than two decades back.
"In Philly, you can get italian ice a lot of places right in the neighborhood," Lynette says. "We wanted to do that in Lancaster."
Not only did they bring the italian ice (or "wooder ice", as folks in Philadelphia tend to say), but they also brought the soft pretzels that Philly is all about. As an accountant, Fred is the one who brought the "entrepreneur bug" to his family of four.
Lynette's career in education (she currently supervises student teachers at Penn State Berks) means her summers are free, and Fred's tax season winds down by May. For the family, it was a perfect concoction for an italian ice endeavor. Plus, it was a way for Fred to get his business fix without compromising family time.
Kylee and Cheyanne were always a big part of the picture. Lynette says part of starting the business in the first place was to help give their daughters "a sense of ownership in something".
The girls have been involved since the beginning, painting the signage on the outside of the store and creating videos for social media. They've even introduced a scheduling app so Lynette doesn't have to write staff schedules by hand. Lynette says, "We wanted them to see the value of when you own something, you put your heart into it."
The Waller's daughters aren't the only teens and young adults finding their way to KC's. They're mindful of hiring teenagers from the community so they can provide an opportunity for growth for other kids, too. As a pair of former school teachers, Lynette says she and Fred "both have a heart for investing in youth."
As their staffers grow up and graduate high school, KC's shares their successes with the public (like college departure announcements on the shop's social pages). They often donate a portion of their profits to local organizations helping youth. In the past, they've promoted Bright Side.
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The family behind KC's is already thinking about what's next for the small, Opportunities Center and The Mix at Arbor Place, two Lancaster staples. With all their efforts, it's clear that the Wallers are really backing their community by creating a space of positivity. After all, Lynette says it's "like a little bit of sunshine."
What's it like running a business alongside family? "This isn't all kumbaya," Fred says, but it works. They're able to function like a team, making their family unit more dynamic. Plus, the customers love Kylee and Cheyanne's energetic personalities.
"We have great italian ice, but a lot of people really enjoy the family atmosphere," says Lynette.
For those out-of-towners making their way to Lancaster from places like Philadelphia and New York City, the italian ice feels nostalgic. Even for small town natives, Lynette says that "It reminds them of where they're from and what they had when they were a kid."
There is something unifying about such a simple treat, one doused in flavors from all ends of the spectrum. With options like mango, coconut, and root beer float, Fred refers to the rainbow flavor. "I don't care if you're black, you're white," Fred says. "We all can reminisce about the rainbow pops that we all had."
"I'm looking forward to experimenting with more italian ice flavors and making our own," says Fred. And if he has anything to do with it, the family will make more hot cocoa bombs over the winter like they did last year.
"My husband likes to make me work a lot," Lynette says before laughing.
In addition to their walk-up storefront on the corner of W Orange St. and Marietta Ave., KC's has an italian ice cart they bring throughout Lancaster. Locals can find them in neighborhoods across the city and destinations like the Tanger Outlets and Clipper Stadium when the Lancaster Barnstormers are playing.
KCs Italian Ice | 617 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603
facebook.com/KCsItalianIce | Instagram: @kc_italianiceshop
