Locally owned and operated ice cream shop Cold Stone Creamery will celebrate five years in Kalispell this month.
Owner Nicole Buckallew and her family invite the community to join them for an anniversary celebration on Sept. 12.
Since opening in 2010, Kalispell Cold Stone Creamery has donated over $12,500 in products and $10,000 cash to local organizations such as Kalispell Public Schools, Flathead County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Flathead Booster Club, Kalispell Legion Baseball, Humane Society of Northwest Montana, and the Academy of Performing Arts.
Buckallew also hosts periodic fundraiser days, during which, a percentage of the day’s proceeds are donated to a local organization in need. Additionally, she encourages her employees, mostly local high school students, to participate in community events by sponsoring teams for Relay for Life and Bowl for Kid’s Sake.
Most recently, Buckallew offered free ice cream to any firefighter who came to the store last month. She worked with the Forest Service to deliver a freezer full of cold treats to the team fighting the Spotted Bear fire.
“We just wanted to show our appreciation to these men and women for all they are doing,” said Buckallew. “I was hoping ice cream might even help boost their morale. It’s the least we could do.”
A 2004 Flathead High School graduate, Buckallew received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Montana before returning to the Flathead Valley where her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for ice cream lead her to opening Cold Stone Creamery. She and her husband Chance have two young daughters.
The community is invited to attend the five-year anniversary celebration September 12 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Cold Stone Creamery, 110 Hutton Ranch Road, where the focus on giving back will continue. The standing Vice President of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County board, Buckallew will donate ten percent of all proceeds during the event to the organization. Anyone who brings a dog or cat toy to be donated to the Flathead County Animal Shelter will receive a discount on their entire purchase. For ice cream lovers, the event will feature a different special each hour, ice cream cake and cookie samples, and giveaways. Additionally, guests can enter for a chance to win free ice cream for a year.