Farragut couple serves up mobile ice cream parlor
“Bringing ice cream to people always brings them a smile,” Dean said.
“We’ve had grown men act like 6-year-olds when they see the truck,” Brooklyn added.
The couple offers soft-serve ice cream — cups and cones — shakes, sundaes and plenty of toppings.
Dairy-free bars and shakes also are available, and they even have doggie ice cream, they added.
“We pretty much have a set menu,” which is painted on the truck, Dean said.
Unlike other ice cream trucks; however, he said this one is for events only.
“Our business is event-based,” Dean explained. “We don’t go out, driving around neighborhoods.”
Instead, they cater to birthday parties, weddings — even a piano recital.
“Pretty much, we will do any type of event,” he said. “We can do small parties. We can do extremely large parties.”
After Dean retired from the U.S. Air Force, serving for 25 years, he and Brooklyn decided to pack up and move in 2016 from Great Falls, Montana, where he last was stationed, to Farragut, seeking to live closer to his parents.
He previously traveled to Farragut on visits “and fell in love with the (Town),” Dean said. “I felt this was the place for me, and it is. It is probably one of the best places to live to raise a family.”
Hoyts Smiley Swirl history
The Hoyts are the first franchisees of Smiley Swirl.
“The original owners were Tonya and Eric Broyles, who live just up the street (from the Hoyt residence),” he said.
“(That’s) who we bought the franchise from,” Brooklyn added. “Eric and Tonya were the first people we met when we moved here. “
The Hoyts recalled seeing the ice cream truck parked in the Broyles’ driveway when the Broyles were getting ready to start the business.
“I stopped by to talk to (Eric) about a business idea I had because I knew he was an entrepreneur himself,” Dean recalled. “Instead, Eric suggested, ‘What about an ice cream truck?’”
“Now we have this big, beautiful pink truck,” Dean added.
To book the truck, call 865-985-3905, e-mail dhoyt@smileyswirl.com or check out Facebook or Instagram.
