Sia’s Italian Ice, a food truck known for its from-scratch frozen desserts since it first gassed up in April 2013, is expanding. Owner Barth Halohan said the operation will continue its food truck rounds but is upgrading its prep kitchen in Des Peres to a larger space and adding public seating and a retail counter.
“Our food truck’s been doing really well, and more and more people have requested our product,” Halohan said. “We want to give space for people to see Italian ice the way it should be made.”
Previously, the staff prepared the frozen desserts in a cramped, 200-square-foot shared kitchen space before loading them onto the truck. Though Sia’s desserts have been stocked in stores widely throughout the area, Halohan said customers have long clamored for a brick-and-mortar location.
The expanded space at 12878 Manchester Road is now a whopping 1,500 square feet. The open concept kitchen will offer 18 seats and a counter where the public can watch Italian ice being made. Patrons may also purchase their favorite treat on site or prepackaged in pint, quart and half-gallon sizes. The company plans to test new flavors with visiting customers using a voting system.
Halohan anticipates opening the new digs in late September. He added that regular hours haven’t been instituted just yet, but from the start the kitchen space will be open at least one to two days a week for eager fans to gather.
This article appears in September 2014.