A South Buffalo couple will convert their love of the ABC series “Shark Tank” with a new ice cream shop boasting unique cones featured on the show.
Mike and Ronna Brestensky will be giving free ice cream to Hampton police, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at their new Crispy Cones location at 4906 William Flinn Highway.
The shop will open to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, April 11.
“We’re ready to rock and roll,” Mike Brestensky said.
The Brestenskys signed their franchise deal with Crispy Cones founders Jeremy and Kaitlyn Carlson of Idaho nearly a year ago, on May 2, 2024, after seeing it featured on “Shark Tank,” which Mike Brestensky said he and his wife watch regularly.
He’s a steelworker at ATI while Ronna is an elementary school teacher in the Freeport Area School District.
Crispy Cones is a sweet treat famous in European countries, including the Czech Republic.
It’s a fresh dough cone, grilled rotisserie-style and covered with cinnamon and sugar or a specialty powder. The cone is filled with the customer’s choice of a spread, soft-serve ice cream, fruit and other toppings.
The Carlsons pitched to the Shark Tank panel of investors in a 14th-season episode. They got a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $200,000 for 20% equity.
The Brestenskys haven’t talked with Corcoran, but they spent two weeks training with the Carlsons in Idaho in December, Mike Brestensky said.
“Both me and my wife, we’re both ice cream people,” he said. “All the sharks, they were positive about it. They all thought it was delicious. Whenever we tasted it in Idaho, we were completely convinced this was our business. When people taste it, they’re gonna love it. They’re gonna just go crazy over it.”
Since its “Shark Tank” appearance, Crispy Cones has locations open or coming soon in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.
“It’s expanding very rapidly,” Brestensky said.
As part of their franchising deal, Brestensky said they have the rights to open at least three locations in the Pittsburgh area and possibly more.
“We’re ready to expand. We got the money. We want to do it,” he said.
After the grand opening, regular hours for the Hampton Crispy Cones location will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.