By Delainey Muscato – St. Bonaventure University
Zayd. Enzo. Thea. ZET. Angelica Porcuri’s three children are the inspiration behind her decision to become her own boss and create her own business. She opened her food truck, ZET’s Italian Ice, in June of 2023 and it has been a great success ever since.
Porcuri was not satisfied with her previous job that did not allow her the flexibility she needed to be there for her children. She also knew she would be great at running her own business. Porcuri decided to open her own food truck so she would never miss another ball game or a first word.
After deciding to open a food truck, she got right to work looking for a truck that would function for her specific needs. Porcuri found one that would work and but she would have to order from overseas. She and her fiancé lucked out when they saw the exact same food truck when driving by a tavern. They immediately turned around and were able to buy the food truck for the same price as the one overseas. Though it is a smaller space, they have been able to add a lot of equipment to suit their needs and plan to reconfigure for the coming season for even more efficiency.
Currently, ZET’s has 54 different flavors of just Italian ice. Porcuri says, “lemon, mango, bluerazz, strawberry and cotton candy are definitely the top sellers”. On top of all the flavors of Italian ice, they also sell desserts like cannoli, cheesecake, Italian Nachos, tiramisu or sometimes savory items like stuffed pepper soup or charcuterie cups. They also have a few beverages including Italian sodas, ice lattes and iced chai.
Last summer, the truck was out from June to November. They were present at many events in the Olean area like Music in the Park, public pools, sporting events, the Garlic Festival in Cuba, the Wounded Warrior concert in Allegany and so many more. “This summer is going to be busy!” said Porcuri. Oftentimes the food truck could be spotted in multiple places all on the same day. Porcuri shared she is not quite sure about opening a permanent storefront just yet. “I haven’t fully decided on a storefront because I enjoy the change and freedom of opening in a different venue every day,” she said. This year Porcuri plans to bring the truck to all the same events she attended last year and more. She is also excited to be coming to Ellicottville this summer.
Though her business has been thriving, Porcuri is not without struggles. On top of being a mother to three young kiddos, she’s a first-time business owner. She bought the food truck and just 27 days later, she was open for business. “There’s a lot of paperwork and planning. There’s finances and prepping. You have to be fully committed,” Porcuri said. She obtained licenses to serve in Cattaraugus, Allegany, and McKean counties. But Porcuri also mentioned how appreciative of the help she has received from the Jamestown Community College Business Development Center as well as the Lain Business Accelerator. Both these organizations have provided her with great connections and helped her business to grow from where it started last summer.
In addition to the truck, Porcuri also teaches baking lessons. She teaches people of all levels of experience different piping techniques, how to use supplies and tools, and different icing consistencies. “I encourage everyone to try everything and have fun,” said Porcuri.
A huge focus of ZET’s and Porcuri’s in particular is giving back to the community. Porcuri said, “There’s a lot of passion and heart that goes into the business and we try our best to give back however we can”. They have donated Italian ice to and raised money for many organizations like Operation Warm Hearts, Wounded Warrior, the Red Cross, Bartlett Country Club, CHD Heartraiser and more.
ZET’s would love to help anyone that is able to donate if they would like. They have a list of organizations that would appreciate continued donations of Italian ice. Reach out to Angelica to help and follow the business on Facebook and Instagram