I Scream U Scream: “WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!”
By Annie Bennett, Co-Editor
Whether you’re looking to re-live your childhood with a root beer float or looking for a small hometown ice cream shop that offers awesome made-to-order fresh food and a cool treat on a hot day, we hope our place will bring you all that and more,” says Tasha Kadrmas, owner and operator, along with her fiancée, Jordan Thompson, of I Scream U Scream in Lisbon.
A Family Business
I Scream U Scream opened in 2010; however, the couple purchased the shop and took over daily operations in April 2019. “We decided to keep the name, as we found the name fit the business, being an ice cream store,” says Kadrmas.
“We own and operate the store together with the help of a few employees, which has included all three of our children who have all held a steady job at the store over the course of our ownership, truly making this a family run business,” Thompson says. “Being a couple who works together, eats together and lives together has its challenges, especially during those trying hot summer days, yet we still come out talking to one another at the end of the shift, so that must mean something is working.”
“We continue to add our own touches to store itself, and the constantly changing menu,” Kadrmas notes. “I Scream U Scream is continuously bringing in new flavors of ice cream and food options.”
More than Ice Cream
“We are not just an ice cream store, as we offer a wide variety of food options as well,” Thompson says. “We serve a little bit of almost everything, from burgers and fries to tacos, wraps, salads, and more.”
The American Deluxe Burger, a burger with mayo, lettuce, tomato, and bacon sandwiched between a grilled cheese sandwich, is one of the most popular items on the menu, as well as the strawberry or apple walnut salads. “They both are served with either fresh apples or fresh strawberries, your choice of grilled or crispy chicken on a bed of romaine lettuce with candied walnuts, feta cheese and a side of our amazing homemade almond poppyseed dressing. These salads are big sellers all year round, especially in the warmer months,” Kadrmas says.
Endless Ice Cream Options
“If you think we have a wide variety on our food menu, then you will be shocked to see our ice cream menu,” Thompson says. “We offer around 50 different flavors of soft serve ice cream cones and dishes, which doesn’t even include our other treats such as sundaes, shakes, malts, and Screamers, our form of the Dairy Queen Blizzard®.” Screamers, al
ong with old-fashioned chocolate milkshakes or malts and hot fudge sundaes, are the most popular ice cream items. “We operate year-round, so you will never be without food or ice cream even in the coldest days of winter,” Thompson says. “Even though ice cream sales slow down drastically in the winter, you would still be surprised at how many people still eat ice cream during those winter storms!”
The Experience
I Scream U Scream is decorated with historic images of Lisbon, as well as the couple’s memorabilia of four generations in the food service industry, dating back to the mid-1950s. Thompson’s great-grandparents, grandparents and parents have all owned and operated restaurants. “A neat piece of history displayed in the store is a 1950s turquoise blue Hamilton Beach mixer, whi
ch still powers on and would make a shake today,” Thompson says. “It was used in my great-grandparent’s restaurant, Hanson’s Café, in Milnor. This milkshake machine is even listed in the bill of sale when my great-grandparents bought and sold the café.”
Near the end of Kadrmas and Thompson’s first summer of ownership, the COVID-19 pandemic’s many restrictions eventually forced I Scream U Scream to close its front doors for service. “We survived the days of the pandemic by having the ability to still serve with our drive-thru window, which truly is what saved our business during that time,” notes Thompson.
In fall 2023, the pair commissioned a mural to be painted on the exterior wall of the building, paying homage to their hometown. “The mural leads you down our drive-thru, to the digital menu board which we installed about five years ago,” Kadrmas says. “We have also brought in the capability of online ordering, which has been a big hit.”
Thompson says the ice cream shop sees visitors from around the globe. “We have had visitors from many states and even from other countries,” he notes.
“We are proud to be able to serve our small community as a ‘Ma and Pop’-type shop,” Kadrmas says. “We aren’t a franchise or a big corporation, we aren’t getting filthy rich, but instead, just a youngish couple trying to make a living.”
To find out more about I Scream U Scream, visit www.facebook.com/IScreamUScreamLisbon or call 701-683-2276.