In Business: Bemidji Family Opens ‘The Sugar Shack’ Ice Cream & Gift Shop

Near the junction of Highways 2 and 71 just south of Bemidji, one local family turned what was last a bait and tackle store into a Minnesota-themed, diner-style ice cream and gift shop.

The Huber family has owned gas station Pete’s Place South for around 18 years, and this past July, they opened The Sugar Shack right next door.

“The kids wanted to have an ice cream store, and so here we are,” said owner Carmen Huber.

“When we went to softball or our extracurricular sports, we would come to the gas station afterwards and Mom would tell us to make ice cream sundaes and give them to customers,” explained Carmen’s daughter, Madison, who works at the shop. “But other customers would say ‘no’ because it’s too hard to eat and drive. So then we started with frozen ones that we had already in the freezer. That way, by the time they got to their destination, it was thawed out.”

The idea of having ice cream to give to customers has grown into a full shop with 40 rotating ice cream flavors and a full menu with hard-serve, soft-serve, fried food, and pizza. And with The Sugar Shack being family-owned and -operated, they can simply make up their own creations to add to the menu.

“The ice cream nachos: waffle cone chips, and then ice cream, and you get to pick a topping,” said Jaymie, the Hubers’ other daughter. “[The Shack Attack is] slushy and vanilla ice cream blended together. I love making creations.”

Along with ice cream, The Sugar Shack is also a gift shop with apparel, games, and other Minnesota-themed goods. This is the first time the Huber family has run a store of this kind, so plans and details for the upcoming cold months are still being finalized.

“Right now, our hours are from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m., so we’ll see how that goes come fall and winter,” said Carmen. “We might close a little sooner, but we’re going to try and stay open year-round.”