Beach Snoballs is gearing up to observe the grand reopening of its first shaved ice shop in St. Pete Beach. Running from noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 4, the celebration benefits a pair of local nonprofits.
Fifty percent of the reopening’s proceeds will go to the Bay area chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Academy Prep St. Petersburg — which is good, because guests are invited to purchase any New Orleans-style snowball to snag one small foam cup of Beach Snoballs’ signature item on the house. Students who flash a valid ID also receive a 10 percent discount during their visits.
Co-owners Desmond Howard and Tripp Welborne are expected to attend the celebration as well. As CL has discussed in our previous coverage, Welborne is a former University of Michigan football player and first-team All-American, and Howard is a Heisman Trophy winner, Super Bowl XXXI MVP and ESPN football analyst.
Neighbors with St. Pete Beach’s Frog Pond restaurant, Beach Snoballs is known for its beachy take on snowballs, a NOLA specialty. The shop carves the fluffy treats off of large blocks of ice, dressing them with 65 flavor options and various toppings. Infused with vodka, rum or tequila, spiked varieties are even on hand for adults.
Beach Snoballs, originally established in Treasure Island, moved to St. Pete Beach under the new ownership of mother-and-daughter team Amy Milko and September Howat in 2016. Their second location launched at Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle earlier this year.
