Cups and Cones Brings Ice Cream on the Road

What began as an idea has grown into a mobile ice cream business bringing Perry’s Ice Cream, specialty sundaes and a touch of nostalgia to events across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

MaryBeth Meredith and Scott Meredith, owners of Cups and Cones in Ashville, started the business in the summer of 2023 after seeing her daughter, Sarah Nelson, open her own ice cream shop, Scoops on the Square, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Their daughter Nikki Rivera, also comes from North Carolina to help every summer.

“She had always dreamed of having an ice cream shop and I was so proud to see her dream come true,” Meredith said.

On the drive home from Nelson’s grand opening, Meredith began thinking about whether she could do something similar during the summer months. Instead of opening a traditional storefront, she decided a mobile business would allow her to bring ice cream directly to customers, events and communities.

“I thought I could do this in the summer myself to supplement my income, but do it as a mobile business instead,” Meredith said.

Meredith also owns MB’s Creative Brush, a sip-and-paint studio in Ashville that opened in fall 2019. Cups and Cones gave her a way to operate a seasonal business during the warmer months while continuing her creative studio work.

“We started our business in the summer of 2023,” Meredith said. “It’s been a fun ride ever since.”

The Cups and Cones trailer offers more than 45 flavors of Perry’s Ice Cream. Customers can choose from cones, sundaes, milkshakes, banana splits, floats and specialty sundaes made with fresh brownies, cookies or brookies.

Meredith said one of the features customers enjoy is the ability to customize milkshakes using their favorite ice cream flavor. With so many flavors on board, the trailer can offer a wide range of combinations.

“When customers come to my mobile ice cream trailer, they can expect to have a large variety of Perry’s Ice Cream on board,” Meredith said.

The business is designed to travel, serving birthday parties, special occasions, community gatherings and other events. Meredith said that flexibility is part of what makes Cups and Cones unique.

“What makes Cups and Cones unique is that not only do we carry a large variety of flavors, we can bring it right to your event, birthday party or special occasion,” she said.

Cups and Cones typically travels within a 50- to 60-mile radius, serving customers throughout Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Meredith said the community response has been positive, especially because the business can come directly to people who book the trailer.

“Most people are so excited that we are coming to their town and it’s so fun to see their expressions on their face when we arrive,” Meredith said.

This year, Meredith and co-owner Annette Wells added a new vintage-style ice cream truck called Off the Stick. The truck gives the business another way to serve smaller events and offer a nostalgic experience for families and children.

“We look forward to being able to do more small events with our truck and bring back the nostalgia feel of the ice cream truck back in the day,” Meredith said.

The truck plays more than 35 songs over its loudspeaker while traveling, which Meredith said often gets people’s attention before the truck reaches its destination.

“There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “As even our journey to our destination, people turn around wave and even ask us to pull over so that they can get ice cream.”

For Meredith, that excitement is part of what makes the business rewarding. While operating a mobile ice cream business requires a lot of work behind the scenes, she said the people make it worthwhile.

“What I enjoy most about having this business is the people,” Meredith said. “Even though it’s a lot of work behind the scenes I enjoy seeing and meeting so many people and bringing a little joy to their faces.”

Children, she said, bring an especially high level of excitement to the experience.

“The kids are so much fun, their excitement is just over the top sometimes which makes us all happy,” Meredith said.

Customers can also follow Cups and Cones on Facebook to keep up with the business, including where the trailer or truck may be traveling and what events it may be serving.

Like many small-business owners, Meredith said she has faced challenges. One of the biggest, she said, is the cost of fees required by different towns, cities and municipalities when operating a mobile business.

“Our biggest challenges have been dealing with all the fees that we have to pay for every town, city, etc.,” Meredith said.

She said she would like to see a system that makes it easier for small mobile businesses to operate across the region, including the possibility of paying by county rather than by each town or city.

“Maybe someday they will be able to figure out a better way for the small business because as it really does eat away a lot of your profit,” Meredith said.

Despite those challenges, Meredith said Cups and Cones remains focused on serving customers and bringing a fun experience to communities across the area. Whether through the trailer, the vintage-style truck or a specialty sundae made with a customer’s favorite flavor, the goal is to offer a cool way to enjoy a summer day.

“I can’t go wrong with the delicious treat, especially on a hot day,” Meredith said.

As Cups and Cones continues its summer season, Meredith said she is grateful for the support the business has received and for the chance to travel throughout the region.

“We make so many wonderful friends and acquaintances during our summer season that it tugs on our heart strings a little when we have to put our trucks away for the season,” she said. “Nevertheless, we look forward to returning again in the spring and the opportunity to serve our community.”

Cups and Cones is based at 2010 S. Maple Street in Ashville and can be reached at 716-450-5357 for private events and parties.