Icing Down Stillwater

Austin Anderson at his snow-cone shack in Stillwater.

By Ariel West

This summer, and hopefully for many more summers to come, Stillwater enjoyed the taste of finely shaved ice made famous by Josh’s Sno Shack in Tulsa.

Oklahoma State University accounting junior Austin Anderson worked for the original Josh’s Sno Shack since he was a sophomore at Regent Preparatory School in Tulsa. The original Josh’s, opened in 2004 by entrepreneur Josh Juarez at 71st Street and Garnett Road, gave Anderson the experience of a lifetime.

“Josh’s Sno Shack offered an awesome, wholesome experience for the residents of Tulsa,” Anderson says. “I loved working there, and the atmosphere was always family-friendly and welcoming. Ordering a perfectly shaved snow cone from Josh’s and hanging out with your friends is one of those summer memories everyone deserves.”

Anderson, 20, worked directly with Juarez and took on a “snow cone” internship to learn the ins and outs of the business, which has nine booming locations in Tulsa. Anderson wanted to take the franchise with him when he came to OSU in 2015.

“My goal was to open the first non-Tulsa location for Josh’s Sno Shack,” Anderson says. “I have five employees and invest a lot of the money back into the company, so it’s been a really fun experience. I wanted to do something to give back to the Stillwater community. Josh’s Sno Shack is here to make memories and provide a great summer experience for Stillwater.”

Anderson plans to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2019 with a minor in entrepreneurship before pursuing his CPA. He says Josh’s will be open while he is at OSU, and he hopes to pass it on after he graduates.

“I plan to open the shack in late April through the end of October each year,” Anderson says. “Working at Josh’s throughout high school and realizing how it served Tulsa was a great experience, and I want Stillwater to have that kind of experience as well. I enjoy getting to know the community regulars, and I just want to create a place for positive summer memories for the Stillwater community.”

Josh’s is located on the south side of Food Pyramid, 421 N. Main St., and is open daily from noon-10:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2-10:30 p.m. through October. More activities, such as music, games and others will be scheduled as the business grows.

Follow Josh’s Sno Shack-Stillwater on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Josh’s Sno Shack-Stillwater, contact joshssnoshack.stillwater@gmail.com.