More Than Half Of Mister Softee Trucks Have Disappeared–Here’s Why
You know you can finally put your winter coats away for good once you hear the ring of Mister Softee’s jingle, and the sound alone is enough to put a pep in a New Yorker’s already fast step. The ice cream truck is a true NYC staple, but sadly we’ve been seeing less and less of those trucks around NYC, and yes, we have been checking the map that shows you exactly where you can find one in the city!
So, will Mister Softee soon no longer provide the soundtrack to our summer? The answer is yes…and no–we’ll still hear Mister Softee’s jingle ringing through the air, though it won’t be as loud as we’re used to. That’s because Mister Softee trucks are sadly disappearing.
Mister Softee has been putting smiles on people’s faces with their mouthwatering ice cream and frozen treats since 1956. At their peak (circa-1960s) there were more than 2,000 trucks across 38 different states, but that number is sadly shrinking–there are now only about 630 trucks driving across 18 states.
The reason behind the falling fleet: competition and rising costs.
Mike Conway, the vice president of Mister Softee and grandson of the company’s co-founder, told CNN:
There’s a lot more competition, especially in New York, than there was in the 1980s and 1990s. Ice cream has become more popular — more stores are doing it. Everybody is getting into the business a little bit.
As more boutique ice cream, gelato, and dessert shops open–such as Van Leeuwen and Oddfellows–competition rises. Places with milkshakes on the menu, such as Shake Shack, also come into play. And to add more fuel to the fire the company has also found itself in turf wars with independent trucks for highly coveted street corners.
Milk and ice cream supplies have also gotten more expensive, hence why customers are handing over five dollar bills for cones that used to only cost $1.
And though it sounds counter-intuitive, sweltering weather also hurts business. Carlos Vazquez, a Mister Softee franchise owner, told CNN, “If the weather is really hot, it’s not really good for business. It’s weird. People don’t want to have to walk too much. It’s creamy and melts and you get dirty and you ask for the extra napkins.”
So the fact that we’re currently in one of the hottest summers of our lifetime doesn’t help.
.jpg){kind=link}
But it doesn’t end there.
Shrinking sizes of American families and even the advance of technology also have a role in the downfall of Mister Softee. The US Census Bureau shows that the average household size is now 2.5 compared to 3.5 in years past. That, paired with technology, not only means less kids but less kids playing outside.
Thankfully, the company is doing everything in its power to stick around, like extending their season–you’ll now hear the truck’s jingle as early as the spring and as late as November (because surely it’s never too cold for ice cream!) You can also call them to cater your events!
“Softee is an icon,” stated Vazquez. “We have to stay in the industry.” We couldn’t agree more! A summer in NYC without Mister Softee is not a summer we’re interested in.
So, if you need us, look for the nearest Mister Softee truck–we’ll be there.
The post More Than Half Of Mister Softee Trucks Have Disappeared–Here’s Why appeared first on Secret NYC.