MOORHEAD - The Tastee Freez is starting its season Friday whether Mother Nature is chill with that or not.

The March 15 opening is two weeks later than the traditional March 1 date, but co-owner Jessica Malvin says the delay has been for the best.

“Last week with the snow we got, we’re glad we waited,” Malvin said Thursday, March 14, as Fargo-Moorhead was working through yet another winter storm. “We’re hoping that tomorrow it gets a little nicer out.”

Malvin said it’s “been a challenge” to get the tiny treatery at 410 19th St. S. ready to open.

“We don’t have heat and air conditioning in there. We had to get some space heaters to warm it up,” Malvin said.

listen live watch live

Malvin and her partner Jessica Verdi started taking over the Tastee Freez operations last year from Duane “Dr. Freeze” Elofson, who had run the shop since 1991.

Elofson was in the shop Thursday, parked by a space heater, taking a break from “putting it together, getting the water back on.”

Elofson says he hasn’t seen snow piled this high around the shop except in flood years.

“This year, no way,” could the shop have opened early, he said. “Too much snow, too much cold. … This is just ridiculous.”

Construction on the nearby rail underpass has also been a challenge, Malvin said. She said city officials have ordered detour signs to direct people to the shop as work continues.

Malvin looks forward to her 18th season slinging sundaes and other cool treats.

“I absolutely love the looks on kids’ faces when they see their cone, and how excited they are when they get their treats,” Malvin said.

Cold weather hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. The store hours will expand in May, she said.



