Snowman's

Introduction[edit]

Snowman's is a popular ice cream spot located in North Troy, NY. The ice cream stand is open seasonally, from March to October, each year. The spot first opened in 1953 in what was then zoned as Lansingburgh. The shop is known for its homemade sherberts, ice cream, and soft serve though they have expanded their menu over the years to include sundaes, shakes, and ice cream pies. Locals and visitors alike flock to enjoy creative flavors, including limited-time seasonal options and unique combinations that keep regulars coming back. The casual, friendly atmosphere makes it a Troy local favorite destination, especially in the summer months [1].

History[edit]

In 1953, Tom Tully founded Snowman's at 531 5th Ave in Troy, NY. In 1972 a well-known Troy businessman, Don Baker, purchased the shop with his wife, Amy Baker, from Tully. Don Baker was actually the former milkman for Borden's Dairy, supplier to Tom and Snowman's. In 1999, Don was name the Rensselaer County Deputy Director of Economic Development and Planning and the shop once again transferred ownership to the Murphy family. An important part of the Snowman's history is delivering quality products using the best ingredients possible. The consistency and the high standard that Murphy held for the product is something that the customers were drawn to and is what made them keep coming. Additionally, Murphy attracts more customers by taking the feedback of the customers online for which flavors to twist together for the soft serve. In 2007, Murphy expanded the business operations to sell Snowman's delicacies on a mobile trailer throughout the Capital Region.

Recent Developments[edit]

In 2022, Murphy decided to sell the restaurant while travelling with his family during Thanksgiving of 2020. As he saw his daughters happily playing and enjoying themselves, he realized that he wanted more time with his family. This resulted in Murphy selling the business so that he can be more of a presence in his daughters lives. This past year, Snowman's ownership was transferred to the owners of the Old Daly Custom Catering Company [5]. The now present owners of the Old Daly Custom Catering Company grew up in Troy and it was an great opportunity to purchase a local business that they have grown up with.

Implemented Technology[edit]

Technology helped advance Snowman. Added POS tablet system, instead of taking orders through the phone. Implemented ice cream online pie orders. Instagram account and Facebook is a recent addition that Snowman included in order to get more of an online presence [4].

Future Plans[edit]

The new owners opted to keep most of Snowman's classic offering and expanded upon the menu, adding more hard ice cream flavors. They do, however, intend to expand the offerings at Snowman's to include dishes from their catering company, such as burritos, tacos, and more, to be served out of a food truck. There is also talks about future expansion with an increase Additionally, they plan to expand Snowman's to other locations in the future [2].