In a sea of food trucks, street performers and artwork created by local artists, over 8,000 Springfield residents took to the streets to bask in a love letter to the city, taking form in the Springfield Block Party on Sept. 8. New to the event (and to the community itself) is Mr. Ice Cream, an ice cream shop located at 230 Main Street.
Behind the operation is PJ Smith, a 19-year-old Springfield High School graduate. The passion for opening his own business initially transpired at a young age, he said, volleying between opening a video game shop or a grocery store. “I was inspired to do all these things or ponder the idea for so long because my mom and dad have a business of their own, and I always looked up to that,” Smith said.
For the Smiths, it’s a family affair. The business previously mentioned is Queen Bee Tattoo, located next door to the Mr. Ice Cream storefront.
Upon graduating from high school in 2022, Smith grappled with the shuttering of the local Baskin-Robbins, a childhood staple for him. But the closure managed to open an unexpected door. “I started thinking, ‘Maybe I could try for a café or something.’ And then, somehow, I landed on ice cream. The more I looked into it, the more realistic it became,” Smith said.
At the time, Smith was working at Five Guys, a fast food chain restaurant known for its hamburgers and french fries. He paid close attention to daily operations and learned the ins and outs of restaurant management, skills that later equipped him to open a business of his own.
Cut to early-September 2023. With the Springfield Block Party on the horizon, Smith scrambled to navigate inspections, freezer shipments and the installation of a three-compartment sink. This task gave way to an unexpected challenge.
Smith and his team were forced to navigate three separate plumbers, all failing to install the sink properly. The third, for example, opted to build a sink of his own, using two straight pipes and putty to hold the contraption together. “I have pictures of it,” Smith said. “It belongs in the Museum of Bad Plumbing.”
With four hours and an unfinished sink standing between Smith and the arrival of the health inspector, they rapidly set out to find a fourth plumber. Luckily, this one finished the job, leaving Smith and his constituents with two hours to spare.
On Sept. 8, the Springfield Block Party commenced, with Mr. Ice Cream being warmly welcomed by attendees. “We were just slammed and had a line out the door the entirety of the party,” Erin Smith, PJ’s mother and Queen Bee Tattoo owner, said. “We learned a lot. Luckily, everything we put into place worked out the way we hoped.”
The opening of Mr. Ice Cream has been a matter of trial and error, ultimately leading to community support and success for the establishment. Smith has continued to garner knowledge through a Facebook group dedicated to ice cream shop owners, with members chiming in to ask and answer questions, share stories and connect over a common bond.
After over a month in business, Smith reacts warmly to those he has connected with along the way. “This 5- or 6-year-old kid named Zach came in. He had painted our logo on a canvas and gave it to us. It was the most adorable thing in the world,” Smith said. “He always gets Fruity Pebbles.”
As Mr. Ice Cream continues to grow, it stands as a testament to what happens when one is willing to take the plunge into trying something new. Life is arguably sweeter at 230 Main Street, an establishment chock-full of local flavors and love for the city of Springfield.
