Magic City Sweet Ice Exterior
Magic City Sweet Ice is opening across from Patriot Park in West Homewood.
A new Italian ice and coffee shop in West Homewood is holding its grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 25. Magic City Sweet Ice is located at715 Oak Grove Road across from Patriot Park in West Homewood.
Five percent of the sales for during the event, which runs from noon-9 p.m., will go to help support Magic City Agriculture Project, a community development organization focused on addressing racial, economic and environmental justice by helping communities develop a sustainable democratic economy and local food system. There will also be food, drinks and door prizes at the event.
Owners David and Wani Shaw say that Italian ice made is made in a similar way to ice cream but without the milk. Magic City Sweet Ice will have 12 various flavors each week, ranging from Bubble Orange Twist to Swedish Fish to classic strawberry watermelon, cherry and blueberry. People can combine their own flavors, too.
"We wanted to provide a delicious refreshing treat that everyone loves and that anyone can afford on any budget,” the Shaws said. “It's a healthy alternative. It has no high fructose corn syrup, no fat, no cholesterol, and it's non-dairy. You can take a family of five out for 12 bucks, and everyone gets something.”
The Shaws developed a love for Italian ice while living in Delaware from 2001 - 2010. When they moved to Birmingham in 2010, they had a hard time finding it in the area and researched what it would take to bring Italian ice to their new city. In 2014, they found a distributor and started selling it in a pushcart in 2014 at various Birmingham festivals, which eventually led to a brick-and-mortar building.
For more information, visit magiccitysweetice.com or find the Business on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.