The popularity of fruit-filled Sonora-style snow cones — known as raspados — continues to grow in the Old Pueblo.
The Mexican snow cone has been available in Tucson for years, with most vendors operating in small, neighborhood shops, but last month a raspados store opened in Tucson Spectrum, the outdoor mall at Interstate 19 and West Irvington Road.
Owned by sisters Claudia and Lili Robles and Jesús Gastélum, Ice Paradise is trying to reach the Anglo market with its raspados and Mexican food, including the Sonoran hot dog.
"Many don't know the product, but once they (try it), they come back," said Lili Robles.
Sonora Snow Cone, a small treat shop at 937 W. Congress St., opened its second location at 2936 E. 22nd St. Monday
"And we are getting ready to open another location in Mercado de San Agustín this coming January," said owner María Robles, who is not related to Claudia and Lili and has been in the business for 10 years. The mercado is near downtown, on West Congress Street.
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María Robles chose the 22nd Street location, which is near Reid Park, to reach a more diverse market.
"We have a lot of Anglo and Asian customers who like raspados and spicy snacks," said María Robles, whose new store has the capacity for 15 people and sells raspados, tacos and spicy Sonoran snacks.
Gastélum, whose family fruit-syrup recipes from Sonora are used at Ice Paradise, said the customers are diverse.
"We have a lot of people, coming to try the raspados, probably because we are right next to the movie theater," Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18, he said. "This is a product they are not accustomed to, but all the people who I've given samples to come back."
The goal of Ice Paradise is to bring families together, said Lili Robles. That's why the 60-person facility has big-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.
"We were looking for something positive for the kids and youth — a place to hang out," said Robles.
Even in the recession, business is doing well, raspados owners said.
"This is a good business because you don't have to invest that much and people like it a lot," said María Robles. "Raspados is not a need, it's not something you have to eat, it's like something to relax and people need that."
In its first month Ice Paradise has had more business than the owners anticipated. They want to open a second location in two years.
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