LEWISTOWN - Everyone has their own story to tell about past experiences with ice-cream trucks. Now, a Mifflintown man is helping the community create new memories.
Clay MacTarnaghan said one reason he started his ice-cream truck business, Treat Time, is because ever since he was a kid, he wanted to do fun things.
He had considered operating the truck for a few years, and decided now was the time. Business officially began May 16, he said.
MacTarnaghan said he built the truck with a friend, which took four weeks to complete. Most of the art on the truck is hand-painted, he said.
"We wanted it to look like a kid's," he said.
During the time the truck was being built, MacTarnaghan said he started to receive a lot of positive feedback from inquiring adults.
"They all have their own memories (of ice-cream trucks)," he said. "It's a lifetime memory."
MacTarnaghan said he too has his own childhood memories of ice-cream trucks.
"I can remember all those details," he said.
Treat Time helps bring those memories back to people, especially since there hasn't been an ice-cream truck in the area in a while, MacTarnaghan said.
"Now the kids are getting excited about it, too," he said, adding that the whole venture so far has been an exciting experience.
Treat Time serves ice-cream novelties, such as ice-cream sticks, cups and sandwiches, as well as a variety of gourmet-flavored popcorn, snow cones, hot dogs and soda, he said.
MacTarnaghan's route covers Lewistown, Burnham, Mifflintown and Mifflin, he said. He works Mondays through Saturdays, at an average of five to eight hours a day, non-stop. Some of the stops have no customers, while others have more than 30 customers at a time, he said.
MacTarnaghan added that he's already starting to get some regular customers at some of his stops.
"I'm starting to recognize some kids," he said.
MacTarnaghan said he tries to get to as many neighborhoods as he can, but his mission isn't just about making money; it's about making memories and giving back to the community.
Treat Time allows families to spend a few moments together, and lets neighbors interact, he said.
"I'm a people person," he said. "Seeing the people get so excited makes it worthwhile."
In the future, MacTarnaghan said he will have specific routes posted on his Web site so people can know where he'll be and when. Also on the Web site, he said he would like to showcase ice-cream truck-related games for kids.
Next season, MacTarnaghan hopes to add one or two more trucks to the business, and maybe expand to serve the State College area, he said.
He said he'd also be open to serving events in the future, such as graduations, school field days, company picnics, family reunions, church events, block parties, nonprofit events and sports games and practices.
"I'm starting to get some requests for events," he said, including birthday parties and community events.
Although he is open to serving events in the future, he always will operate the truck, which is the core of the business, he said. He also always will serve neighborhoods because those are a very important part of the business, he said.
For more information, call 437-1826 or visit www.treat-time.com.
