Beau Shell was born in Athens and has lived here his whole life.  He attended Athens Christian for elementary and middle school, and is currently a sophomore at Cedar Shoals High School, where he plays drums in the school band. Beau is the owner and founder of Lil Ice Cream Dude Cool World Ice Cream Shop located on the east side of Athens in the Ansonborough Shopping Center.  Beau opened his ice cream shop on June 9th, his 15th birthday.  However, Beau has been building his ice cream empire since 2012 when he received his first ice cream cart for his 8th birthday. Since then, Beau has worked over 800 events and served thousands in the Athens and Atlanta area.  He lives on the north side of Athens with his parents. Beau also has an older brother who is in the Army and who is currently serving our country on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

What is your favorite place to eat in Athens?

 

We mostly eat at home, but I like Taco Bell.

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be and why?

 

I’d probably go to Greece or Italy or somewhere in the Mediterranean area.  I like thinking about ancient history and the way it was set up and the older systems there.  It would be tough because t’s a modern place now, but I’d like to know more about the older stories.  

 

What’s your favorite movie or the first movie you saw in a theatre?

 

 I like the Star Wars trilogy.

 

What advice would you give to someone who is starting a business?

 

Be determined. Work on a business that helps you and eventually helps other people.  So, go into business to make money but also to help others. Try to improve on something, especially for other people. 

 

If you could see any band anywhere, what would it be and where?

 

My favorite kind of music is marching band music.  I’d love to see a drum corp live in a stadium; so I’d love to see any year of Spirit of Atlanta. 

 

Where do you see yourself in five years?

 

I’d like to have grown the business once again. We’d have more employees, and another building. I’d like to make sure we utilize the shop and pivot towards branching out maybe back to more catering, but having more space and using it to expand the business.  

 

What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

 

[Beau’s dad answered this] Beau is really keen on philanthropy, a lot of people might not know that.  He loves giving back. He’s involved in UGA Miracle. In 2013 he was really sick and while he was at the hospital, he ate a lot of popsicles. When he got out, in order to show his appreciation for how they took care of him, he wanted to take his popsicles and carry them back over to the kids there at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite and share his popsicles with the kids.  They wouldn’t let him bring them in for health reasons, but they got him involved with UGA Miracle and now he has raised over $10,000 for that organization. He is very humble about these things, so a lot of people don’t know that about him.  

 

What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word home?

 

A sense of pride.  My heart. Home is where I grow.