HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) — A staple of summer in Harrisonburg is facing a chilly setback. Branch’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Truck, known for its signature chocolate-vanilla twist cones, is calling on the community to help fund repairs for a vital piece of equipment.
The soft serve machine responsible for producing the truck’s most popular item—the iconic twist cone—is currently out of service. Co-owner Chantel Branch says replacing the broken equipment will cost more than $25,000, a steep price that prompted the family to turn to their loyal customer base for support.
“It’s really hard, because our customers come to get that twist ice cream, the iconic swirl, and we can’t give it to them like that,” Branch said.
Serving sweet treats across the Friendly City for over a decade, the Branch family has built a reputation not only for their desserts, but also for their commitment to the local community. Now, they’re hoping that community will rally behind them.
“We’ve been trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got, but we just need help to raise the funds to get back to what we used to do to keep our ice cream fans happy,” Branch said.
The family-owned business has also faced challenges sourcing ingredients. Branch, who bakes brownies used in several desserts, noted that supply shortages and rising costs—especially due to new import tariffs—have made operations more difficult.
“Sometimes they’re not even there,” she said, referring to local shortages of cocoa and chocolate. “And with the tariffs, the cost of the soft serve machine has nearly doubled.”
With the summer season approaching and repairs expected to take time due to overseas shipping delays, Branch emphasized the urgency of the fundraiser.
“We know it’s going to take time to get everything built and fixed,” she said. “So the faster we have the funds, the quicker we can get the ball rolling—and then we can have our twist ice cream again.”
Beyond restoring service, Branch hopes to give back once the goal is met. Any surplus funds, she said, will be used to provide free ice cream to low-income residents in the Shenandoah Valley as a gesture of gratitude.
“Having that delicious treat kind of gives everybody a little break from all the stress,” she said. “That’s why we want to offer the best experience possible for our customers here in Harrisonburg.”
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