We all scream for … Wards bring ice cream treats to streets of Russellville Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by ALISON JAMES AND CONTRIBUTED
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uesdays, Mondays, we all scream for sundaes – it’s a classic old ditty most everyone knows – and Jake and Abby Ward decided to give the people what they want. The Ice Cream Truck was originally a purchase by Jake’s parents, David and Tracy Ward. As it sat unused, they suggested Jake and Abby give it a whirl. It was spring 2020, and the two – who were engaged at the time – had found themselves with extra time on their hands, since Jake’s job as a teacher and coach with Russellville had gone on unexpected hiatus thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. They were already stocked up on ice cream labeled for resale, purchased from a Birmingham company, which Jake’s parents had bought when they first acquired the truck. After applying for their business permit and scrubbing out the deep freezers to fill with frozen treats, they were all set. “We had all the time in the world to do it,” Abby said.
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“We really didn’t know how people would react,” Jake said. Abby agreed, saying they thought people would like it but “didn’t know how long the ‘new’ would last.” They found immediate success. “We just went through downtown, the District 2 area, and there was a lot of excitement. Kids were running out and jumping up and down,” Jake recalls. “We just thought, ‘Wow, this is pretty awesome.’” From that first outing, they were hooked. “We loved it. It was very exciting for us and the kids, getting to see a real ice cream truck,” Abby said. “A lot of the parents were just amazed – they hadn’t seen an ice cream truck in years,” Jake added. So April 2020 launched a new side career for the couple. “It really took off. We started doing it pretty much every day,” Abby said. “Those first few days we would stay out eight hours – and there was no air in the truck, so at first it was rough.”
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