Posted on 05/04/2016 7:21:02 PM PDT by nickcarraway
20-year-old Texan with Down syndrome becomes youngest business owner in town with shaved ice start-up
Snow yeah!
May 7 marks the official opening of Blake's Snow Shack, in Sanger, Texas, making founder Blake Pyron the youngest business owner in town at the age of 20.
Despite being born with Down syndrome, Pyron continues to rack up accomplishments, from being named prom king to acting as the captain of his football team, thanks in part to parents who refused to have their son denied any opportunities.
"When you're handed a child with special needs, society doesn't tell you to expect a lot," Mary Ann Pyron told ABC. "So many moms are told, 'Your child cannot do this.'"
Tanner Maples, a 15-year-old family friend, is Pyron's first employee, leaving the ice entrepreneur to focus on customer service.
"Whatever he needs, I'll help him," Maples told USA Today.
In attendance at the grand opening will be Tim Harris of Alburquerqe, N.M., owner of the self-proclaimed "world's friendliest restaurant."
According to USA Today, Harris assisted the Pyrons with their business plans and inspired them as they moved to open the frosty establishment.
Offering shaved ice in traditional flavors such as strawberry and blue raspberry to more exotic options such as tiger blood and birthday cake, the business’ opening, intentionally coinciding with Mother's Day, looks to be a success.
Beyond that, as summer heats up and word continues to spread, Blake's Snow Shack has more than a snowball's chance of making a flavorful splash in its northeast Texas home.
Feel good story of the day.
That is what I’m talkin’ about! Way to go guy!
It is amazing what people with life’s challenges can do when they say ‘can’, while able-bodied people on pubic assistance live their lives just saying ‘can’t’.
Awesome!
What a great story & what great parents!
Best wishes! A sno-cone stand just opened at a busy intersection near me, and it’s doing a great business. A lot of it is the novelty, I’m sure, but if we get warm weather, business should be steady.
Sanger’s a nice town, and it gets plenty hot and humid there, so he should do a good business.
Wish he would drive that truck in my direction. For the shaved-ice-challenged...this isn’t a snow cone. It is an icy treat with the same ingredients but an entirely different experience. If you have never tried one, it is a MUST for your bucket list. This fellow couldn’t have picked a better product to push. Good for him...and good for his line of customers.
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