KENTWOOD, Mich. — A local food truck owner is facing significant out-of-pocket expenses after a vandal broke into his business and caused major product losses earlier this week.
Alan Tomlinson, owner of the Underground Cookie Club in Kentwood, discovered the damage on Monday morning. The window of the truck, parked behind his storefront, had been shattered. As the intruder rummaged through the vehicle, one of the freezers was unplugged, resulting in the complete loss of more than 200 handmade ice cream sandwiches.
“We got into our bus, found that things had been kind of rummaged through, and one of the freezers was unplugged,” Tomlinson said. “That caused over 200 sandwiches to be all melted and turned to goop.”
The loss is twofold—an estimated $1,000 to repair the broken window and another $1,000 in lost product, none of which will be covered by insurance. After filing a previous claim for a separate incident years ago, Tomlinson says his former provider dropped their coverage. He now fears another claim could risk his current policy.
“We don’t want to run the risk of being denied insurance again,” he said. “So essentially, all of this is going to come out of my pocket, my wife’s pocket, and just the business itself.”
The Underground Cookie Club has built a loyal following for its creative ice cream sandwiches, contributing to the growing popularity of ice cream franchise opportunities in the region. While Tomlinson’s operation remains independent, his story highlights some of the financial risks small food businesses face when unexpected events strike.
Despite the setback, Tomlinson remains focused on recovery—and he’s calling on the community to help by enjoying what they do best: dessert.
“It just means we’ve got to sell some extra ice cream sandwiches,” he said. “The more people are willing to buy, the more it helps out.”
Customers can support the Underground Cookie Club at Food Truck Friday in Grand Rapids through the end of the season, and at the Muskegon Pride Festival on June 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
As small businesses continue to fuel the latest ice cream franchise trends across the U.S., Tomlinson hopes loyal fans and new customers alike will help turn melted losses into sweet success.
Related topics
- Jimmy Fund’s Scooper Bowl Brings Sweet Relief and Cancer-Fighting Support to Boston
- King of Hialeah Praises Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop as a Local Treasure
- Explore Sweet Stops with Washington County’s 2025 Ice Cream Trail
