Meet Jill Perez | Ice Cream Slinger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was inspired to create a space in my sweet little hamlet of Catalina that would provide comfort after a tumultuous 2020-21. My parents were small business owners in a small town, Sag Harbor, NY. And my best memories of growing up in their cobblery, were of the people in our community. My parents knew their names, their children, their illnesses, all the daily details that made folks feel noticed in a busy world. I noticed when my family moved to Catalina, that it was filled with the richness of the people who lived here. I drank it all in and wanted to be part of the community. I had been driving down to Oro Valley to get “to go” coffee and that’s a 20 minute drive. How can we not have a coffee shop and wait, no ice cream? One can “cook” up here in the summer with 117 degree weather, how could we not have an ice cream shop in a 10 mile radius?? So an idea was born, a combo of ice cream and quality coffee! I knew I had to jump and take the risk before someone else “scooped” up my idea.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Licks Ice Cream & Coffee is a super sweet hangout! We have a really warm vibe, we know our customers names, what their favorite order is, we know their families, they are all very special to us and we want to create a lovely experience for them. We serve handmade ice cream made in Arizona that our customers swoon over. We also create Cereal Swirled Soft Serve, where we infuse your favorite childhood cereal into our vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream. You can create your own dessert or pick one of our Signature Desserts, such as a “Peanut Butter Falcon” which is vanilla ice cream, Reeses Puffs Cereal, peanut butter cups, swirled into vanilla ice cream, topped with a Nutter Butter, Reese’s PB sauce, and Hershey’s Chocolate syrup and a sprinkl of PB cups! We like to think we bring something fun and let our customer’s create their idea of a perfect dessert. We also serve piping hot bubble waffles that are a delightful blend of crispy and soft, ice cream can be scooped on them for melty goodness and any toppings.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I adore living in Tucson, and showing it off. We live north of Tucson, in Catalina and it’s just divinely scenic. Our favorite places to visit are the Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm in Oracle, they are a family run farm with neat events such as New Moon gatherings, dinners, BBQs, St Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence is a must see, an oasis in the desert, just stunning architecture and gardens. You must also stop by Absolutely Art and see Pam, the proprieter, is lovely and her gallery has beautiful pieces and fantastic workshops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could not have brought my sweet dream to fruition if it wasn’t for my Dad, Terry, who gifted me with his love. My Dad passed in May 2020 from Covid. My Dad was brave, genuine, loving and so incredibly level headed. My husband, Hector, was instrumental in encouraging me, backing me up and an incredible emotional support through the challenges of opening a business! He wouldn’t let me give up, even when everything was stacked against me. My sons, Raleigh, Nicholas and Julian who were creative with my logos, design, aesthetics, grunt work and suffered through long days of Mom not being available.

Instagram: @lickscatalina

Facebook: licks catalina