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<\/a>James Curlis, a junior majoring in accountancy at Wright State, and his mother, Kim, opened K&J’s Ice Cream in Sidney. (Video by Kris Sproles \/ photos by Erin Pence)<\/p><\/div>\n
He discovered it at an ice cream convention. \u201cI took one bite and said, \u2018This is it,\u2019” he said. “\u2018I haven\u2019t had anything better than this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Curlis grew up in Sidney. His father, Bob, worked as a pharmacist and owned a Medicine Shoppe pharmacy and later his own pharmacy. His mother helped manage the business.<\/p>\n
When Curlis was 10, he started his own lawn mowing business and built it up to 10 customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up I was always around the entrepreneurial spirit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
His father would joke that in his next life he wants to be in the ice cream business because the customers are always happy. That stuck with the young Curlis, and his career interest was shaped by his parents\u2019 involvement in small business.<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked working hard and seeing the benefits from that,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I think I have a yearning, a desire, to stay in business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curlis graduated from Christian Academy in Sidney in 2017 in a graduating class of 10. He was attracted to Wright State by its size, affordability and family feeling.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy experience has been fantastic at Wright State,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s given me so many opportunities, not only as a student but as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curlis has worked in the Office of Campus Recreation as an intermural official. He is the director of internal affairs for Student Government and works in the Student Union as a business services assistant.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy classes have given me a lot of experience, knowledge I never would have gotten outside of Wright State,\u201d added Curlis, who will begin his junior year in accounting this fall. \u201cIt\u2019s just been a very positive experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
After his father sold the pharmacy, Curlis\u2019 mother asked her son if he wanted to invest with her in an ice cream store. So the two of them began to look into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did some research on ice cream and how to start a business,\u201d he said. \u201cWe talked to business owners who opened up ice cream businesses and asked their opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
On April 13, Curlis opened K&J\u2019s Ice Cream on the former site of his father\u2019s pharmacies. The K stands for Kim and the Curlis\u2019 three daughters, Kayla, Kelly and Katelyn; the J for James, who handles day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n
The store usually carries about 30 different flavors of hand-dipped ice cream. Offerings also include soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits, root beer floats, slushies, sandwiches, soft drinks and coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hand-dipped ice cream has been selling out faster than anticipated,\u201d Curlis said. \u201cIn fact, we\u2019ve had to make a few emergency calls (for more).\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a>James Curlis has also worked for the Office of Campus Recreation and in the Student Union and serves the director of internal affairs for Student Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
A single-dip of ice cream in a cake cone sells for $3; a single-dip waffle cone is $4. The waffle cones are made in-house every morning, sending a heavenly bakery-like perfume throughout the store.<\/p>\n
Curlis said the store\u2019s atmosphere is a big part of its appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to try to create a unique feeling, a unique product for consumers that makes them want to come back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After graduation, Curlis would like to pursue his master\u2019s degree at Wright State, either in accounting or an MBA. He would also like to open a second K&J\u2019s Ice Cream near the university.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
James Curlis, a junior majoring in accountancy at Wright State, and his mother, Kim, opened K&J’s Ice Cream in Sidney. Continue reading