By Jessica Beeli
Assistant Circulation Editor
Locally owned and operated, Wanna Chill?, an ice cream and shaved ice parlor, is introducing the South Bay to an assortment of frosty treats.
Owner Shaista Zaragoza is a South Bay resident who has lived with her family locally for many years. As her children grew older and went off to college, Zaragoza decided that she wanted to try to open a new and exciting business. She decided to open up a local dessert parlor, inspired by Hawaiian shave ice.
“With one kid in college and another a high school senior, I decided I wanted to do something I would enjoy and something that people of all ages would like,” Zaragoza said. “So I decided to open Wanna Chill?, and it’s been extremely rewarding. Who doesn’t love dessert?”
Zaragoza owns and operates the business in Redondo Beach, which sells shaved ice, ice cream, acai bowls, smoothies, blended drinks, and protein shakes. The store is best known for their signature Hawaiian shaved, starting at $2.25.
“We have a lot of really good shaved ice flavors, and there are so many different combinations, my favorite combo is always changing,” employee Lauren Paulson said.
Despite competition from other local dessert shops such as Handel’s Ice Cream and Penguins Frozen Yogurt, Zaragoza has strived to create a unique and delicious alternative for customers to enjoy. She felt that shaved ice would be a nice change from typical desserts.
“Shaved ice is different from what many other places offer around the area, you don’t see it very often, and that’s what makes our store so cool,” Paulson said. “It helps that it tastes really good too.”
Zaragoza has employed many students from many schools around the South Bay. Many of Wanna Chill?’s customers are students from local high schools such as Redondo Union, Palos Verdes and Mira Costa.
“The staff was super friendly. They gave me a stamp card, which gives me a free shaved ice after 10 stamps,” Mira Costa senior Lauren Atkinson said. “I am definitely going back as soon as possible.”
One of Wanna Chill?’s most popular desserts is the shaved ice and ice cream combination. The ice cream is topped with shaved ice, and is then flavored with three of over 50 different kinds of syrup. Some popular flavors include Orange Boba and Guava. The shaved ice also includes various toppings, ranging from strawberries to chocolate chips.
“I love going to Wanna Chill? and getting an after-school snack,” Atkinson said. “Their portions are really generous, their prices are low and their options are great alternatives to frozen yogurt.”
Wanna Chill? also brings their shaved ice to their customers. They cater many special events in local cities like Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. They often cater local school functions, such as silent auctions and movie nights.
“We do a lot of events and fundraisers in the area,” Zaragoza said. “Recently we brought shaved ice to Grandview Elementary School’s movie night. We had a lot of fun. The kids seem to love it and we love to do events like these because they connect us to the community.”
Wanna Chill? is open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and is located at 625 North Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.
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