Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT-On the weekends, locals here may notice a new snow cone stand next to Hardy Hardware at the corner of Eighth and Morgan Streets. That stand is called Davenport Shaved Ice, and it is run by James Nealey and his 14-year-old stepson, Jaydon Otero.
Nealey's family moved here from Spokane Valley in 2019. He went to College of Western of Idaho and graduated with an associate's business degree in 2016. He went to school after serving in the Army from 2006-10 before he became legally blind in 2010.
"My optic nerves stopped working," he said.
Due to his loss of sight, Nealey has been on disability funding. He'd like to change the way he earns income to doing so through business ventures, and he sees the snow cone stand as a way to start that.
"If I can, I'd like to get off disability and call myself an entrepreneur," Nealey said. "Hardy's Hardware gave me that opportunity."
Nealey has had the idea of doing a snow cone stand for "a couple years," but this was the first year the opportunity presented itself. Bringing on his stepson, Otero, as his partner only added to the allure.
"I liked the idea of doing something fun for the summer," Nealey, who lives here in town with his wife, Otero and four dogs, said.
The stand is located adjacent to Hardy Hardware.
Otero, who is attending Davenport High School as a freshman in the fall, said helping run the store will allow him something to do this summer.
"I'm usually sitting around playing video games," Otero said. "This is something different to do."
The stand is open from Thursday-Sunday from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Flavors include pink lemonade, blue-lime, cotton candy, tiger's blood, grape and lemon-lime, while Nealey promised more flavors soon. Tiger's blood and cotton candy flavors are sugar-free. Prices range from $3-$5, depending on cone size.
Drew Lawson is the former managing editor of the Davenport Times and a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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