Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Nuckles.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2019, a dream to open a paint-your-own-pottery/fused glass business in Lampasas was planted in my heart. When I shared my idea with my husband, he said he would support me if it could be an ice cream shop too. I have to admit that I initially thought his idea to merge the two was a dumb one. Shortly after, I woke up in the middle of the night with the words the cherry on top. I thought, that’s it! That is exactly what I wanted to be to our little community, that something “extra” special as the meaning implies. We found the perfect home for our dream in a historic 1885 building, full of character and stories of its own. The timing wasn’t easy. It was January 2020 when we received the keys and started the project. Shortly after we began, the pandemic put things on hold. Once we decided to proceed with the project, construction projects were in high demand and getting contractors to work on our little project was a challenge. This building has so much heart and we wanted to bring it back to life. It was worth it! We opened our doors in September 2020.
From the moment we opened, The Cherry on Top become more than just a place to grab an ice cream cone. It’s a gathering spot where families laugh over sundaes, friends paint pottery together for hours, and grandparents bring their grandchildren of all ages to make memories they will cherish. That’s what makes it such a special place. It is also a place where young adults that I hire can learn valuable job skills such as customer service, responsibility, accountability, team work, etc.
When I look back over the last 5 years, I feel so much gratitude. I am truly blessed and thankful that I get to provide the opportunity for people to come together and make memories with the people they love! For me, The Cherry on Top isn’t just the name of my shop but a way of life. It’s about savoring the little things, celebrating connection, and always adding that extra something sweet on top both literally and figuratively.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a brick-and-mortar business in a small town isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes patience, creativity, and a deep belief in what you’re building. Those lessons came quickly for me with opening right in the middle of the pandemic. When you are in a smaller community every customer matters. You don’t get constant foot traffic of a big city, so you have to earn people’s support one family, one scoop, and one smile at a time. Opening The Cherry on Top in 2020 came with challenges beyond anyone’s imagination. It wasn’t just the pandemic but balancing the historic restoration, supply shortages, and the unpredictability of launching something new in a tight-knit market. Construction was in such a high demand that everything took longer and cost more. There were days I wondered if we would ever open our doors.
I am first to admit that keeping a storefront thriving takes constant effort. We aren’t just selling ice cream and offering paint-your-own-pottery, we are creating experiences. Every event, every flavor, every detail matters because people notice and they care.
Despite the long hours and the ever-challenges, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Owning a brick-and-mortar shop in a small town means you’re part of the heartbeat of the community. It’s hard work but is also the most rewarding thing watching people gather, laugh, and make memories right inside your walls. Sometimes I take a step back and think to myself, I did THAT! None of it would be possible though without the community support and wonderful staff members along the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We have 24 flavors of ice cream and shaved ice and make our own delicious waffle cones. Customers can walk-in anytime and pick a piece of pottery to paint or do a fused glass project. All supplies are provided and the projects are fired in-house in one of our 3 kilns. We do private birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers, art camps for kids, and other events as well.
Any big plans?
I am always dreaming about what’s next. I’m a creator at heart so I am always trying to think of ways to keep things fresh, fun, and inspiring for our customers. One of my next goals is to expand the shop’s fused glass offerings. I love fused glass and want to offer different shapes (ie. Christmas tree, dogs, cats, stars, etc). The future isn’t about getting bigger but about growing deeper roots. I just want to keep giving back, keep evolving, and keep creating something our community is proud of.
Pricing:
- Magnet size pottery pieces start at $8 with average pieces in the $18-25 range. Larger pieces go up to $75. All prices include needed supplies and firing.
- Fused glass starts at $25 depending on the size of the piece.
- We serve ice cream in cups, cones, milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits, etc. starting at $4. Shaved ice starts at $4.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.thecherryontopart.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thecherryontoplampasas
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecherryontoplampasas
- Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gHddKCrQUWBVAbeZ7
