EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – A special moment of nostalgia and community pride unfolded recently at Lic’s Deli and Ice Cream in downtown Evansville, where a local family celebrated the return of a beloved treat: the Girl Scout Thin Mint ice cream.
The journey began in 2009 when Kara Combs, part-owner of Lic’s, recalled a family memory that would shape the future of one of their signature flavors. In 2009, Dairy Queen released a Thin Mint Blizzard, but my stepmom wouldn’t let me get one because it wasn’t made with actual Girl Scout cookies,” said Combs. This spark led her and local Girl Scout troop leader Kristyn Jones to a collaboration that would forever change the ice cream menu at Lic’s.
Jones, a former Girl Scout, worked with Lic’s to create a unique Thin Mint ice cream that would include real Girl Scout cookies. “We wanted chocolate Thin Mint ice cream, so we began calling around to local businesses to see if anyone could help us bring that idea to life,” Jones explained. Her persistence paid off when Combs and the team at Lic’s decided to create the special flavor, using Thin Mints directly from the Girl Scouts.
Now, 16 years later, Jones is back at Lic’s, this time with her daughter’s troop, Troop 627, to revisit the process behind the flavor’s creation. The girls got a behind-the-scenes tour of the downtown ice cream warehouse, where they learned about the ice cream’s origins and watched how it’s made.
“It’s a full-circle moment,” Jones said, reflecting on her own experiences as a Girl Scout and now sharing the same opportunity with her daughter, a first-year Daisy. “It’s an almost nostalgic feeling, especially as a mom. I love being able to share with my kids the things I did when I was younger.”
For Jones, the experience is about more than just ice cream. It’s about the empowerment and sense of accomplishment that Girl Scouts bring to young girls. “When I was a little girl, I could call a business and make something great for the community,” Jones said. “This is a local business helping families enjoy something special together.”
The Girl Scouts Thin Mint ice cream will be available at all seven Lic’s locations starting February 3, offering a sweet treat for the entire Evansville community to enjoy.
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