Serving Up Sweet Treats

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

Some people are born into the family business, their grandparents or great-grandparents having begun a service-based company decades ago. But those legacies must start somewhere, and Hoover couple Shana and Monti Osman decided to create their own. The Hoover couple, who hold individual jobs—Shana is a nurse leader at a local hospital, and Monti manages tax for a large corporation in town— wanted a business they could run together, with their two young boys, ages 7 and 11, alongside.

“We travel as a family often—trying new restaurants, attending sporting events—and on trips the boys are always asking to go get ice cream and desserts,” says Shana. “About a year ago, we visited an ice cream shop with a lot of family fun flair, and we decided Hoover could really use a great entertainment dessert

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 place.” After coming across a space they knew would be a “sweet” fit for their business, the Osmans opened Magic Milkshakes & More this past December on John Hawkins Parkway (near Tortugas Pizza). “We knew we wanted to be in Hoover,” she says. The name was as serendipitous as finding the location.

“The name came from our love for Birmingham, as we have been here for more than 25 years—we’re both UAB graduates,” says Shana. “And we also knew our store was going to serve more than just milkshakes: ice cream, brownie sundaes, waffle sundaes, waffle sticks, and waffle ice cream sandwiches.”

Having their boys join in the family was a no-brainer: “We’re all about family. We take our boys everywhere with us. Basically, every new adventure Monti and I have, we want our boys to experience as well, and this includes our business,” says Shana. “Both boys are at the store all the time. On any given day, you may see them cleaning tables, taking food out to customers, drying dishes, or sweeping the floors. You also may see them watching the latest game on one of the TVs, because they love sports—we’re a big sports family!” Noting they have been fortunate to have both extended families to pitch in when needed, Shana says she and Monti are a great team: “We could not do it without each other.”

Together the whole family is making the most of their name, giving guests tastes of cold treats like waffle sticks and brownie sundaes and February’s special, a milkshake called the Crazy Cupid that includes the icecream trifecta—strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla—a chocolate icing-and-red pearl rim, and an iced Valentine’s cookie, topped with whipped cream and heart sprinkles. “Our top three shakes are the S.E.C. (cookies and cream and vanilla in a chocolate swirl cup with

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 a chocolate rim, topped with crushed Oreos, whipped cream, a chocolate chip cookie, red sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle); M3 (homemade vanilla in a chocolate swirl cup with a chocolate rim, crushed Oreos, fudge brownie, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle); and Royal Victory (chocolate chip cookie dough in a Nutella swirl cup with a vanilla icing rim, topped with chocolate chips, whipped cream, KitKats, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle). We plan to continue a milkshake special each month. And we recently added the Waffle UP, which is a waffle ice cream sandwich,” says Shana.

The Osmans have not only brought a family dessert destination to Hoover—the eatery features arcade machines for younger customers and sports and adventure TV for everyone—but they also feel strongly about being a part of the community. “Our kids are in the Hoover school system,” notes Shana. “We’re very involved with Hoover recreational sports with both boys. Our business has sponsored Hoover High School baseball this year, and we have two spirit nights coming up to support local schools: South Shades Crest Elementary on February 21 and Gwin Elementary on March 7. During spirit night hours, 20 percent of sales will go to the schools.” Recently, they have begun booking birthday parties on Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (before the store opens), and they hope to extend the offerings soon.

“We are not a franchise; just a family-owned start-up dessert shop,” says Shana. “And we truly appreciate all the support from Hoover and the surrounding communities.”

Visit Magic Milkshakes & More at 2801 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 157-O in Hoover. For more information, visit magicmilkshakesmore. com.