‘We’re super excited’: New owners of Garden City ice cream shop bring fresh faces, flavor
To say Bryon and Karen Busbin have been anxiously awaiting the opening of their first business is an understatement.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic and the unforeseen obstacles it’s created, that waiting period seemed like it would be endless — that is until Saturday, when the new Pawleys Island residents opened up The Yum Yum Shop for curbside business in Garden City Beach.
“We’re super excited,” said Karen Busbin, who moved to the Grand Strand from Spartanburg with her husband, Bryon, upon his retirement from Michelin. “We didn’t even sleep last night. We stayed at the shop until after midnight, we got home about 1, we sat there and talked until about 3:30 and then got up and we just came right back.”
While the Busbins are new to the area, The Yum Yum Shop isn’t. Karen Busbin said the business, which serves up ice cream and other treats, has been in the area for nearly five decades. The shop offers 36 flavors of ice cream, homemade waffle cones, banana splits, malts, sundaes, funnel cakes, cotton candy, hot boiled peanuts and more.
The business also serves up soft drinks, juices and shaved ice.
But what’s got Karen Busbin — and her grandchildren — most excited is the addition of Dippin’ Dots, a popular brand of ice cream snacks.
“We’re one of the very, very, very few ice cream shops that Dippin’ Dots has allowed to carry their product,” Karen Busbin said. “We’re excited about that and our grandkids are excited about us carrying Dippin’ Dots.”
The Busbins moved here in February and have been eager to open the business, which employs several St. James High School seniors who are trying to save up wages to pay for college in the fall.
“I told my husband, I said “It’s either we hurry up and open or we’re going to be helping pay for four kids’ college tuitions this fall.’” Karen Busbin said. “They’re in a situation where they have to work to be able to go to school.”
The idea of helping the community through the business is one the Busbins hope to expand upon — especially when people’s lives get back to normal following the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’re planning on making The Yum Yum Shop very active in the community, you know, doing fundraisers with the local schools and helping them out,” Karen Busbin said.
Karen Busbin said business was steady — albeit a little slower than what would be expected under normal circumstances — on the first day of operation.
“It’s actually been great. There hasn’t been as many people out here as there typically would be, but we’ve had a steady stream,” she said. “It’s chilly, but people still want ice cream even if it’s cold outside.”
The Busbins have been frequent visitors to the area over the years, vacationing here up to four times a year, Karen Busbin said. And, despite the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the business’ opening, the family is keeping a positive attitude as it steadily becomes a regular face in the community.
“It was kind of like it is what it is,” Karen Busbin said of the coronavirus obstacles. “Bryon’s the most positive person you’ll ever meet and he’s like ‘You know, like everything else, this will pass. Everybody will be tired of being cooped up and the first place they’re going to want to go to is the beach.’”
The Yum Yum Shop, which is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, is located at 111 Atlantic Avenue near The Pier at Garden City and the beach.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 3:54 PM.
