Commercial real estate shifts northwest with residential growth

Molly Ryan
Business Profile | Connie’s Frozen Custard
Melissa Ashby, the owner of Connie’s Frozen Custard, stands small next to a giant replica of a frozen
custard cone.
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By Molly Ryan
Growing up in Missouri,
Melissa Ashby always had
access to her favorite dessert,
frozen custard. However, when
she moved to Texas with her
husband, she noticed that frozen
custard shops were a rarity in the
Houston area. Ashby saw this
as a tasty business opportunity,
and she soon started planning
her own shop, Connie’s Frozen
Custard, with her husband.
“We looked for a location for
Connie’s for five years,” Ashby,
whose nickname is Connie, said.
“We chose this area because
we like being out here in the
suburbs, and from 1999 to the
present, the growth in this area
has almost doubled.”
After finding a location at an
old bank on the corner of Jones
Road and McCracken Circle,
Ashby had to deal with the most
important aspect of her business—finding
the best frozen
custard recipe. To do this, she
went back to her roots in Missouri
and asked to use the same
59-year-old recipe as a frozen
custard shop in her hometown.
The shop agreed and put her
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9740 Barker Cypress Rd. • Cypress, Texas 77433
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Jones Rd
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through 10 days of intensive
frozen custard training.
When Ashby finally learned
the ins and outs of the custard
business, she opened her shop
with a drive-thru window, two
flavors of custard—vanilla and
chocolate—and plenty of topping
choices in April 2000.
Today, Connie’s, which is still
in its original location, has a
steady stream of customers, an
extensive list of frozen treats and
a new outdoor seating area.
“Once people come and try
it, they will come back,” Ashby
said. “Frozen custard is a comfort
food, and there is something
for everybody here.”
Returning customers such as
Fiona O’Mara and Jafitza Sander
say they return to Connie’s
because the frozen treat tastes
better than most ice cream.
“Frozen custard is creamier
and smoother than ice cream,”
Ashby said. “It is premium ice
cream made with egg yolk.”
Besides the draw of the taste,
Ashby said Connie’s is a great
place to bring the entire family
to relax on a hot summer day
and throughout the year.
Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 9
Molly Ryan
A Tin Roof sundae is topped with a cherry.
Drool-worthy items
Concretes: Vanilla or chocolate custard mixed
with fruit, candy, nuts and more
• Texas Tornado Concrete—Vanilla custard
blended with strawberries and melted
chocolate chips ($4.71)
Sundaes: Vanilla or chocolate custard covered
with a choice of toppings.
• J.B.’s Texas Turtle sundae—custard
topped with hot fudge, caramel, roasted
pecans and cherries ($5.25).
• Banana split—A whole banana topped
with custard, strawberries, marshmallow
cream, mixed nuts and cherries ($5.57).
Malt or milkshake: ($3.40–$4.70)
McCracken
Circle
Jones Rd.
Mills Rd.
Ocean City
Blvd.
Cypress North
Houston Rd.
Connie’s Frozen Custard
12545 Jones Road, Houston
281-469-3444
www.conniesfrozencustard.com
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