Food Life + Arts

Shasta’s Cones and More gives UH a student-made taste

web shastas

Shasta’s has gone from a small cart in the Student Center Satellite to a new feature of the Student Center. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

Cougars wanted ice cream, and they got Shasta’s Cones and More.

Now that Shasta’s has returned from a three-year hiatus with a shiny new venue in the Student Center, it continues to develop the legacy it has created for a decade.

“We had a vacancy (in the old Student Center)… and our policy board of students said, ‘You know, we like ice cream and we’d really like to have a student-oriented shop,’ ” said Keith Kowalka, assistant vice president for Student Affairs.

“We went to Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, a local company… and asked them if they thought about having an on-campus store, and their first reaction was ‘no.’ ”

After convincing Blue Bell that it would only cost them a few renovation dollars for the store and the promise that they would sell more than just ice cream, Blue Bell agreed, and Shasta’s Cones and More was born.

“They loved the idea (after) we took some students… to advocate for (us),” Kowalka said.

Shasta’s original location in the old University Center was off the beaten path, and it rarely topped $1,200 in revenue on a good day. When Shasta’s closed its doors in 2012, it left behind the signature cart at the Student Center Satellite entrance, where every Monday after a UH football victory, students could enjoy Dollar Cone Days.

The physical store wasn’t forgotten.

When the planning phase began for the Student Center’s renovation, Phase One introduced McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks and Panda Express. Students bargained for a dose of healthy eating, and got a Freshii location on the other side of the building. What was left for Shasta’s?

With a new prime location and extended hours in the renovated Student Center; Shasta’s is the only store in the Student Center aside from McDonald’s that opens on Sundays.

“It’s all run by students,” Kowalka said. “That way of running things is a bit different, but that’s the way they wanted things run — and it works.”

[email protected]

1 Comment

  • I would love to visit this place! Most certainly these cones taste delicious. It makes me even more hyped that they are made by students. These guys and girls managed to achieve all this on their own and it is really impressive. Back in college I could barely keep up with my classes let alone work part time like they do. Once I even had to use Help On Essay to complete my term paper. Otherwise I would have dropped out for sure. And to think that these students keep up with both studying and working, way to go!

Leave a Comment