Shaved ice business keeping Libby cool

With the scorching heat this summer, Kirk Powell decided to open up a shaved ice shop in Libby.

“I opened up July 13,” he said. “I had a food truck down in Portland and I ended up getting a shaved ice machine for the summertime. I had it when I came back from Portland. I saw this building and thought it would be a good place for a shaved ice place. With no Dairy Queen, I think the town needed a place like this.”

Powell said that the amount of support he’s received from the community has been great.

“The first few weeks have been awesome,” he said. “Business has been really good. It’s been better than I expected. I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s such a small town, so you never know. I think people miss Dairy Queen. If Dairy Queen was still around I wouldn’t be doing as well.”

Powell said he hopes to get his food truck up to Libby from Portland after Ignite the Nites.

“My food truck was called KP’s Kicking Grill,” he said. “I served gourmet burgers, fettuccini and hot wings. I will probably get that up here after Ignite the Nites. It will be here on the lot and I’ll be serving food out of there.”

Powell said the goal is to stay open year round, but that it depends on how business is going.

“Customers want me to stay open year round,” he said. “Hopefully I can keep it open year round. If I get my food truck up here I will be. When I tell people about the food truck they get excited. I think it will really take off.”

At this time Powell is working by himself, but that will change once he gets the food truck to Libby.

“It’s just me right now,” he said. “I’ve got one lady that will fill in for me if I need a day off. When I get my food truck up here I’ll employ somebody full time.”