Few things can beat the summer heat in Florida like a giant cup of flavored snow.
Greg Davis, his wife Billie Jo and the rest of his family are bringing new frozen treats to Plant City with the grand opening of Pelican’s SnoBalls at 610 S. Collins St.
Davis said the goal is to have the business open and serving more than 100 flavors to the community by the end of July. With just a few hoops remaining to jump through, it looks like the grand opening is nearly here and families will soon have a new destination to spend their afternoons. There will be indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of parking. A half-picket fence will be erected between the property and the street to ensure young ones will be able to enjoy their treats in peace and Davis said there will be music, games and other fun activities year-round at the venue.
“I was trying to get something family-based and family-oriented here in Plant City,” Davis said. “I wanted to create something the whole family could come and enjoy. People know me as the guy who owned Amazing Autos, which was in the same spot, but I got to thinking that I wanted to try something else, something more positive and that was able to really bring the community together.”
While searching for the perfect new adventure for his family to embark upon, Davis said his daughter Mallory was the one to eventually suggest buying into the New Orleans-style company that has taken other cities, including Lakeland, by storm. She told him to give it a try and said she felt the atmosphere of the unique business was just what her father had been looking for. After much research, Davis realized she hit the nail on the head and his entire family soon got behind him to help make the flavorful paradise into a reality in Plant City.
For nearly 20 years, Pelican’s SnoBalls has been serving more than 100 flavors to communities across the country in the New Orleans tradition of sweetening “smooth, fluffy snow.” It’s not a snow cone, as Davis was quick to emphasize. The entire make-up of the treat is softer, adding a new twist on summer decadence.
“These are really fluffy shaved ice, where a traditional snow cone is really hard and crunchy,” Davis said. “They’re completely different, and once you have a SnoBall you will realize what you’ve been missing. With Florida being such a hot and humid environment year-round, having this refreshing treat available is really going to be a benefit to the Plant City community.”
With so many flavors to choose from, Davis said it will be essential to come back time and again to try out different concoctions before you discover your favorite syrup. Everything from Bahama Mama to J’Makin Me Happy to Red Velvet Cake to Sour Tsunami are on the massive flavor board. Davis said standard flavors like Candy Apple and Blue Raspberry are always crowd favorites. His go-to is Cotton Candy, which he said tastes like it came straight from the fair, but in an icy form.
Of course, more adventurous palates and aesthetic enthusiasts will be thrilled to explore the Signature SnoBalls.
The rainbow ball has cherry, pineapple and blue raspberry stripes. The Butterfly Kiss is birthday cake and cotton candy flavored with a butterfly gummy. The Unicorn is pink cotton candy and skylite flavored, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with “fairy dust.”
If you want an homage to summer, try the Shark Attack, which comes in Sour Tsunami and Tiger’s Blood flavors, and has its very own shark gummy. The flavors are gluten-free and there are also several sugar-free syrups as well so everyone can enjoy a sweet treat. But be warned: Davis promised the icy concoctions are addicting.
Davis has a special place in his heart for the youth of his community. He’s served as a children’s pastor at Plant City Church of God for 25 years and said he knows how crucial having a place in town to spend time and bond with your family in a safe and fun environment is. He was also the owner of Plant City’s Skate Zone for years and said he misses being able to offer that unique style of family fun.
It’s been a major drive in his renovation of the property, and while he had originally hoped they would have been able to open the doors on July 1, he decided to take the time to make sure it was perfect out the gate and promises when the sign is finally flipped to “open,” it will have been worth the wait.
“I’m trying to make it the best it can be to start with. I wanted to start the race quick and have it all finished and ready to go when we open,” Davis said. “We’re going to have some special things during the grand opening. There will be some character meet-and-greets, a balloon artist, games and just lots of family fun. Our whole family is involved in this and you get that feeling the moment you walk inside. My wife Billie Jo has been 100 percent supportive of this process, I wouldn’t be doing it without her help and support, and my kids, their spouses and even our grandkids have all been lending a helping hand.”
Davis said the Pelican’s SnoBalls Plant City Facebook and Instagram will continue to update their journey, offering a firm Grand Opening date as well as sneak peaks at the fun to come. The business will be open seven days a week from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.