THE OUTPOURING OF LOCAL SUPPORT WAS AMAZING, AND WE REACHED OUR GOAL IN THREE WEEKS

grandma, whom she calls “Gigi,” and in July 2013 made her quiet debut on the corner of 3rd Avenue North and Broadway in Fargo.

The following summer, Gigi's kicked off the season with a bang, launching Lollypalooza―an ice-lolly festival at Davies Park in Moorhead. The response was explosive. “The next day was our official opening, and we literally sold out 200 ice lollies in 45 minutes!”

Gigi’s had been producing small batches of 300 lollies per week out of the Square One Kitchens, but needed to find a way to fill the demand. Enter “The Beast,” an industrial-sized ice cream machine that could keep the integrity of the artisanal ice cream, but churn out a whopping 1,000 lollies in a single day. Kolbe says she hopes she’ll be able to satisfy her growing customer base this summer.

Quickly realizing Upper Midwesterners wanted ice cream all year round, Gigi’s started Winter Club in 2013, a subscription service offering home delivery of 10 ice lollies per month for six months. With seasonal flavors like apple strudel and pumpkin latte, the chilly confections can be savored any time of year.

Flavor is big for this Southern gal and many come from those Gigi used to make. But Kolbe says nothing goes to market without a thumbs up from her chief taste tester, her eight-year-old stepson Noam. “If he doesn’t approve, it goes back for revisions.” And are there flavors! Spiced rhubard with pomegranate, cucumber mint, frozen hot chocolate, strawberry basil and honey peaches are just a sample of the dozens of flavors she’s invented.

Keeping in line with her business's core values, Kolbe sources most of her ingredients locally, and when she gets an idea for a flavor she can’t produce locally, she leans on the organic produce departments of area stores like Swanson’s, Sydney’s and Hornbacher’s. “Everything I produce is locally sourced or organic with no artificial ingredients or preservatives and without a ton of calories. And almost all of them are naturally gluten-free. You can feel good about eating it!”

She’s also committed to keeping her products affordable. “My ice lollies have always been and always will be $3. I want everyone to be able to afford to enjoy a treat, and good, organic products should be available for everyone.” She also operates her business leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible. “Everything about my products aims to be Earth-friendly.” Her wrappers are made from a biodegradable corn-based plastic, and she recycles everything from the production process.

This summer she’ll be setting up shop at her usual haunt on 3rd Avenue North and Broadway, and will open her cart for business Friday, May 29 at 12 p.m. She’ll have five regular flavors and will spice up the selection each week with an additional surprise flavor. “We’ll be open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until we run out and from May 29 until it gets cold, or until ESPN Gameday kicks us out,” Kolbe joked.

Meanwhile the real Gigi still lives in Tennessee and has yet to taste her namesake. “She will,” said Kolbe. “She’s very proud of me.”