Oak Cliff’s 55-year-old sno-cone stand reopens for the season April 29.
For the past 10 years or so, Aunt Stelle’s (also called “Aunt Stella’s” and “Stella’s” by locals) has been operating under limited hours, usually Thursday-Sunday, 1-9 p.m. The stand usually closes after Labor Day.
The worlds’ greatest sno-cone stand now is run by Lee Albert, the daughter of Aunt Stelle. Albert’s father built the shaved-ice machine that is still in use today.
As long as Lee Albert, who is now retired and lives in the suburbs, wants to sell sno cones, Aunt Stelle’s will be in business. But once she and her husband decide they can’t do it any more, Albert has said, she will close it. Her only daughter is a physics teacher who doesn’t want to take over the shop. And it’s all too sentimental to sell, Albert has said.
You’re living in extraordinary times, Oak Cliff. While the rest of our neighborhood is changing rapidly, we’ll still have Aunt Stelle’s this summer. Do hang around on the asphalt and give yourself a brain freeze for old time’s sake. This won’t be around forever.
