Visit Lulu’s over the Holidays for Cool Sweet Treats

This Snocone stand serves more than flavored crushed ice. And they’re open year ’round!          

by Angie Kay Dilmore

Lulu’s Specialty Cones & More 

dared to open in the summer of 2020 during the height of the pandemic, and then navigated through the myriad natural disasters of two hurricanes, a freeze, a flood and most recently, a tornado. Owners Ashley and Jonathan Frantz have proven to be examples of the many SWLA entrepreneurs who have persevered through the past year and not only survived but prospered as a result of their creative ways of reaching out to their clients and the community. Lulu’s regularly tweaks their menu – recently adding limited breakfast items – and concocts new and exciting products such as smoothies, snowshakes (their own spin on milkshakes) and a breakfast cereal series (think Cinnamon Toast Crunch in a shake). For winter, they are offering frozen hot chocolate and regular hot chocolate, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches and warm, soft pretzels. They have a lively social media presence, host movie nights on their Country Club Rd. property, and have mastered the art of taking their Snocones and More on the road to local events.

That’s not in any way to suggest it hasn’t been a struggle. The Frantz’s have experienced a major increase in supply costs and shortages of items such as chips, pickles, and cups. “We drive to Lafayette, Baton Rouge, or Beaumont several times a week to buy or borrow supplies, promising to repay when our own stock comes in,” says Ashley Frantz.

The couple believes businesses succeed when they work together, supporting each other in good times and bad. “In many experiences over the years whether at a job or seeking out help to open Lulu’s, it’s often been ‘every man for himself,’” Ashley adds. “That can be very discouraging to one’s confidence in pursuing their dreams. I don’t want anyone to feel defeated and give up because we need every person’s ideas, dreams, and passions to come to life. We all benefit when someone walks out their purpose and leads a life full of joy. I know what a huge help it is for me when I pick up the phone and call another business owner and ask for help and get great advice, so I want to be that for others. We teach our employees that working together makes things more bearable and they never have to do life alone. We try to model that as bosses and business owners, not just say it.”

Lulu’s Specialty Cones & More is located at 2735 Country Club Rd, Lake Charles, and open 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. Tues-Fri and 1:00 -7:00 p.m. Tues-Sun. They will close the week of Christmas and return after the New Year.