Slush Puppies/Slurpees/Icees
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MEMORIES:
bunnymousekitt remembers...When I was very small I liked to get Icees at the dime store, because there they would decorate the ... More »
Posted on 08/25/08
PHOTOS:
Sure, everyone’s got a favorite. For some, it’s the ICEE, perfect alongside a tub of movie popcorn in front of a large movie screen. For many, it’s 7-Eleven’s famous Slurpee, with its ready-to-go Big Gulp sizes, and see-thru cups. For others, it might be Slush Puppies, non-carbonated, non-caffeinated slushes, popular with those who like to customize their frosty beverages. The most interesting thing, perhaps, about the three favorites is that it all comes down to a
Klednik was running a drive-thru restaurant one day in 1959 when his soft drink machine broke down. To ensure a cold beverage for his customers, he sold bottles of soda from his freezer to keep up with the demand. Customers came to love the cool treat, and soon, Klednik began looking for a way to re-create the slushy beverages in a more efficient manner. Once the machine was completed, it wasn’t exactly a hit. In fact, they had a hard time selling the machines, until 1965, when individual shops became ICEE distributors. That same year, a 7-Eleven owner walked into a competitors store, and saw the machine first-hand, and 7-Eleven purchased three machines – putting them to the test in a few of their stores. The idea was a hit, and within two years, “Slurpee” machines were in just about every 7-Elven store around the country. ICEEs and Slurpees are available in many flavors, though they’re most commonly found with Coca-Cola, cherry and blue raspberry flavors. 7-Elevens more commonly carry additional flavors, which have included everything from banana to blueberry.
The Slush Puppie, which is actually owned by the makers of ICEE, works a little differently. Well, sometimes. If a store owner was kind enough (or at least not as frugal), they’d keep the flavors off to the side. With only one or two machines necessary, since they were filled with the non-flavored base, it was great for those who wanted to customize their frosty beverage. With flavors like Grape, Cherry, Watermelon, Lemon-Lime, Strawberry, Piña Colada and wide variety of others, the combinations were endless!
No matter which brand was your favorite, there was always a refreshing cool treat to be found in a frosty slush drink, no matter what the season.
