The heat wave Boston has been experiencing has brought a faster start to summer than expected, with temperatures in the 90s sending folks looking for all manner of relief. One business that may be benefitting greatly from the hot streak? Ice cream trucks.
Kids were running up and down the playsets and cooling off in the splash plad at Jean B. Waldstein Park in Brookline on Monday when Zack Khatatbih pulled up in his ice cream truck, causing several young, eager customers to drop what they were doing and sprint with cash in hand towards the sounds of the jingles blaring from the vehicle's speakers.
For Khatatbih, it's been a welcome busy few days.
"Yeah, with the heat wave everybody's calling us to book us for events and also we have our own spots to go to," he said. "And it's been really extremely busy with the heat wave."
Khatatbih said he's been in the ice cream truck business for over 30 years. But last year was a rough one as the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically cut off the time he could spend with customers.
"Last year we operated (for a) very, very short time," he said.
But now that the state has dropped most of its COVID restrictions, just in time for warmer weather, things are starting to get back to normal. Khatatbih says the last few days he's had several events for companies, along with birtday parties. But he's just hoping that when he rolls up to parks on hot days, he'll continue receive a warm welcome like he did in Brookline.
"I just advise people to stay in the shade, stay cool," he said. "Get an ice cream - if you can afford to - to cool down."
In the spirit of summer, GBH News purchased a Spider-Man popsicle from Khatatbih's business, at full price of course.
Unfortunately, it fell off the stick after just a few bites.
