Calgary-area family celebrates 75 years of running ice cream shop – Calgary | 24CA News
The Calgary Stampede is all the time an enormous a part of the 12 months for therefore many companies within the space across the metropolis.
And at MacKay’s Ice Cream in Cochrane, it’s all about carrying on a household custom that goes again a great distance. Welcoming Stampede guests at MacKay’s is one thing that’s been occurring since 1948.
The household that runs the store is now celebrating 75 years of serving clients.
“Wow — that’s a long time to be here,” buyer Rhianna Smith mentioned. “Lots of small businesses don’t make it, so 75 years is a long time.”
The anniversary makes the summer time of 2023 an extra-special one for members of the MacKay household.
“We’re super excited!” store supervisor Meghan Tayfel mentioned. “We are now at the fourth generation of our family, so this is a really big milestone for us.”
Tayfel’s grandfather, James MacKay, began making and promoting ice cream on the store on Cochrane’s primary road in 1948.
“He was using his grandmother’s recipe for making ice cream,” Tayfel mentioned.
Tayfel’s 14-year-old daughter Isabella is now behind the counter serving clients, the fourth era of her household to take action.
“I just remember always trying to bribe my parents to give me a scoop of ice cream,” Isabella Tayfel mentioned.
Rhona MacKay additionally grew up within the store, serving to her dad James by placing collectively cardboard tubs to comprise the freshly-made ice cream.
MacKay says the business’s 75th anniversary is a memorable second for everybody linked with the store.
“My mom and dad would be so proud,” MacKay mentioned.
Paying a go to to the store is a part of the Stampede enjoyable for purchasers from all types of locations.
“We’re from south Wales, in the U.K. — it’s something we have to do before we go home,” buyer Shaun Gealy mentioned.
“My wife’s maiden name is also MacKay, by coincidence, and she came here to visit family many years ago, so we’re repeating the tradition with our four-year-old daughter.”
MacKay’s Ice Cream is holding an official occasion from midday to 4 p.m. on Sunday July 30, inviting individuals to hitch them in celebrating the anniversary.
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