Happy Ice Opened First Black-Owned Shop at Disneyland
The dessert brand arrived at the Anaheim theme park on Juneteenth 2026.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Desserts
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Happy Ice, a dessert shop serving water ice and Joy-lati treats, officially opened at Disneyland on June 19, 2026. The launch marked the debut of the first Black-owned dessert shop within the Anaheim theme park.
Why it matters
Founder Lemier Mitchell created the business to provide a positive example for young people from his hometown of West Philadelphia. The opening represents a significant milestone in the expansion of diverse vendor offerings at major regional entertainment destinations.
Happy Ice, which started as a food truck, has surpassed its initial sales projections since opening at the park. The menu focuses on water ice layered with sweet cream and fruit.
The players
Lemier Mitchell
The 34-year-old entrepreneur from West Philadelphia founded Happy Ice and serves as its owner.
Disneyland
This major Anaheim theme park serves as the site for the new dessert shop location.
The details
The business successfully transitioned into a permanent park location following a popular pop-up event held in 2021. Owner Lemier Mitchell, 34, oversees the expansion of the brand that specializes in water ice and signature Joy-lati treats.
Timeline
Happy Ice held a successful pop-up at Disneyland in 2021.
The shop began serving customers at Disneyland on June 19, 2026.
Culture Shift
The arrival of Happy Ice at Disneyland highlights a broader shift toward greater representation among the vendors occupying high-profile commercial spaces. This transition reflects a move away from legacy concession standards toward more diverse entrepreneurship within regional tourism hubs.
Disneyland guests can now include the shop in their park routine for water ice and Joy-lati treats. Visitors should note that the location is a permanent fixture rather than a temporary pop-up, providing consistent access for future trips.
The takeaway
The success of Happy Ice shows how a specialized food truck concept can scale into a major destination landmark through strategic partnerships. Aspiring entrepreneurs can look to this model for insights on building brand equity from mobile origins into permanent retail success.
Further reading
Explore more local options in the Desserts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 6abc Action News.
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