Maplewood native, Gene Coon, is making what he calls, Poptickles, in the Tiffany’s Diner kitchen. He’s running a Kickstarter to grow the business by buying a tricycle equipped with a cooler in the front. He’s seeking $7,400.
“Nobody is doing icepops in this area,” Coon said. “It’s the latest thing. Whisk, down in Cherokee, and Ices Plain and Fancy in the Grove are doing something similar, but nobody is doing a bike.”
See the Kickstarter for a Poptickle delivery tricycle.
Poptickles “are made using fresh locally sourced fruit, vegetables and dairy following sustainable practices. Everything we make is by hand and in small batches. We use only natural products and never add any chemicals or artificial anything,” according to the Kickstarter.
Poptickles, ice cream, T-shirts and an invitation to the tricycle painting party (it comes in white) are among rewards for contributors.
Coon’s plan is to schedule events, and stock and deliver the bike, then pick it up when it’s over. He said one option would be to stock the cooler with non-alcoholic ice cubes for use in specialty drinks.
He also wants to take the bike to places like Children’s Hospital with a corporate sponsor. He said he also has people interested in renting it from him and buying the product and taking their chances.
“We started, this year, making handcrafted poptickles (ice pops) and ice cream. Our goal is to bring a three wheel cargo bike (icicle tricycle) that we call a PopTrike to St. Louis to sell PopTickles and ice cream at farmers markets, as a street vendor, to restaurants, bars, stores and for catering events such as private parties, business events, promotions, nursing homes, retirement communities, day cares and schools. We want to work with charities for fundraising and really hope to have the trike deliver Poptickles & Cream to children who are being treated at either of the two world class hospitals in St. Louis. Bringing out the smile in everyone is our mission and a hand painted trike is the way we want to deliver the fun.”
Coon will offer Poptickles at an art fair sponsored by Stone Spiral Coffee at Ryan Hummert Park, Friday, July 10 at 6 p.m., the night of the 10th Annual Let Them Eat Art, on Sutton Boulevard.