Making Thunder Bay Even Sweeter
By Olivia Bosma
The word “epic” is an understatement when referring to the incredible homemade ice cream and desserts sold at Epic Cones. Founded by husband-and-wife team Adam and Danielle Turuba in 2018, Epic Cones offers the people of Thunder Bay fun and delicious treats throughout the summer that are safe for those with peanut and tree nut allergies.
“Our son has a severe peanut allergy, and it was hard to guarantee that what he was eating was 100% safe when we would go out for ice cream. We had a few close calls.” Adam says. “Then one time we went on a trip to Toronto and found an ice cream shop there that was peanut safe but had so many toppings, and I thought that it would be a great idea to start something like that in town.”
After getting inspiration from the shop in Toronto, the Turubas purchased a trailer and an ice cream machine and started the first completely peanut- and tree nut-free ice cream shop in Thunder Bay. “When we first started it was part-time, an at-events-only kind of thing,” Adam says. “But we quickly gained a lot of customers. I never realized how many people are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, so what makes our business unique is that we can really guarantee that we are safe for those with these allergies. No doubts or worries about it.”
On their menu, customers can find a large assortment of treats that are sure to suit their summertime cravings, from soft-serve vanilla, chocolate, and twin cones to their specialty creations. “Our specialty cups are pretty popular,” Adam says. “A specialty cup comes with our ice cream served with an assortment of homemade toppings—homemade apple crumble, Oreo brownie explosion, strawberry shortcake, just to name a few. The apple crumble and brownie explosions are top sellers.”
Aside from being completely nut-free, the Turubas are always looking to expand their menu to make it safe for those with other food requirements as well. “We currently offer a few gluten-free options for those with gluten intolerance and we are always looking to create even more options,” he says. “We have had customers ask about keto desserts, so we are also currently working on creating some delicious keto-friendly options for this summer.”
Epic Cones will be operating throughout the summer from Wednesday to Sunday at various locations. On Sundays, they can be found in the parking lot of Oriental Garden, and for Wednesday through Saturday, they will share their location on their Facebook page. So, if you find yourself hankering for an incredible homemade summer dessert, head on over to Epic Cones and you will definitely fix that craving.
For more information, find Epic Cones on Facebook @epicconesthunderbay.
