Inspiring Conversations with Nick Peros of Frostbite Ice Cream and More

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Peros.

Hi Nick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was in elementary school, my parents — who both emigrated from Greece as teenagers and worked in the restaurant industry for many years — opened a diner in a small town in Central Florida, Frostproof. After about five years of renting, an opportunity came up to purchase a building down the road — but they didn’t want to move the diner, instead opting to start a second business in the hope of doing something “easier” than the traditional breakfast-lunch-dinner concept that they were used to. I was 13 years old, and my brother and sister were seniors in high school. When our family discussed what to do with the new business, we decided to sell ice cream and quick bites, and my sister came up with the name Frostbite Ice Cream & More.

When we opened it in 2004, Frostbite wasn’t very busy. We were not making enough to get by and still relied on the diner financially. All five of us were working — I started on the fryers while my siblings served ice cream. Over the years, we upgraded the menu and made improvements to the building, and the business grew little by little. Within five years, my parents were able to sell the diner so we could fully focus on Frostbite.

While I was in high school and working in the restaurant, I started to develop a passion for our family business. By the time I graduated, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I watched my parents closely and I especially loved learning from my father, who has always been a great mentor and teacher. He taught me how to do the work and also how to run the business, from making orders and staffing schedules to managing the finances and making smart investments.

In 2016, my parents passed the business down to me and my brother, Dino. We’ve continued to grow the business and add our own touch to it. We added new point-of-sale systems and online ordering, upgraded the drive-thru, and recently added a patio with outdoor seating. We’ve built up an online presence, recently hitting 5,000 followers — something we’re super proud of, especially since the entire city of Frostproof only has about 3,000 people!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening Frostbite was a challenge in itself. This was a totally new concept — we had no idea how to run an ice cream shop. My parents had to hire a woman who had experience with similar restaurants to come teach us how to make everything from a simple one-scoop cone to milkshakes and twisters. Even with that training, it took several years for us to get in the groove of it and really get the business off the ground.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Frostbite Ice Cream and More?
Frostbite Ice Cream & More is a fun, 50s-and-60s-themed diner in Frostproof, Florida, where local families can come enjoy good food, great service and delicious ice cream treats. We specialize in fast, family-friendly meals like burgers, wraps, salads and fried chicken. We have 24 flavors of hard ice cream and soft serve and an endless menu of milkshakes, speciality sundaes, banana splits, twisters and seasonal treats. Some of our signature items include Banana Split in a Cup, Brickhouse Sundae (vanilla soft serve with Oreos, bananas and peanut butter sauce) and Brownie Avalanche (hot fudge sundae with Oreos and brownie pieces).

What matters most to you?
For me, what’s most important is making sure Frostbite is a fun, enjoyable environment for everyone, whether they are eating here or working here.

Contact Info:

• Website: frostbitefl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frostbiteicecream/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frostbiteicecream863

Image Credits
Caloosa Media