When John Smotryski left his esteemed position in construction management to start an ice cream shop, much of his community was shocked. “A lot of people looked at me and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re leaving this great job to go to Key West and open an ice cream store.’ People were really surprised because it’s risky,” Smotryski said. By Sarah Lindauer
When John Smotryski left his esteemed position in construction management to start an ice cream shop, much of his community was shocked.
“A lot of people looked at me and said, ‘I can’t believe you’re leaving this great job to go to Key West and open an ice cream store.’ People were really surprised because it’s risky,” Smotryski said.
However, after 30-plus years of dealing with the constraints of working for a large corporation, Smotryski knew it was time for a change. “I loved the industry, but the corporate part really has so many limitations to getting things done in a fast and logical way. I became increasingly frustrated with the corporate way of doing things,” he shared.
Smotryski’s family decided to pack their bags and move to Key West, a tropical island in Florida, where they stumbled upon an old soft-serve ice cream shop. He cashed in on his retirement savings, signed a lease and Wicked Lick was born.
Needless to say, Smotryski hasn’t looked back since.
The hole-in-the-wall shop produces small-batch ice cream with liquid nitrogen, giving it an extra creamy consistency without the need for stabilizers. Smotryski and his team have decorated the interior with pirate memorabilia, created a slew of merchandise and asserted Wicked Lick as a can’t-miss destination in Key West.
Instead of giving people change orders for construction, Smotryski now serves up ice cream and toppings.
“It’s really kind of changed me in the sense that I’m a happier person,” he said. “Construction can be intense and stressful. You’re dealing with big sums of contracts, conflicts and schedules. To me, an ice cream shop seemed like a business that would not require that stress.”
Now in his fifth year with Wicked Lick, Smotryski would tell potential franchise owners to have faith. “I wasn’t afraid of taking a risk because I have a really good positive outlook on things. I really believe and manifest what I want to accomplish.”
It must be true: An ice cream a day keeps the stress away.
Sarah Lindauer