Meet Karin Cubbage

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karin Cubbage. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karin below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Karin with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

Growing up, I didn’t fully realize how hard my dad was working to support our family. We were a family of eight children, my mother stayed home, and my dad worked mostly manual labor jobs. We definitely struggled financially, but I don’t remember him ever complaining about our circumstances. He had a responsibility, and he handled it, no questions asked. Seeing that firsthand shaped my work ethic early on. I started working at a young age and quickly learned that effort matters, and so does consistency. My family taught me that if something needs to be done, you just do it. Because of that, I became motivated and willing to work for what I want. I’ve seen how hard work can turn into opportunity, and without that foundation, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My husband and I became entrepreneurs mostly out of necessity. When he lost his corporate job, we needed a solution, and we needed it quickly. With my background as a server and manager in high-end restaurants, along with my love of baking, I felt confident in my understanding of flavor profiles and the restaurant business. Since there was already a small bakery in town, I thought, why not take the flavor ideas I love in baking and apply them to ice cream instead?

Ice cream has also always been personal to me. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad making homemade ice cream for our family. It was simple, but it brought everyone together, and those moments really stuck with me. Even now, ice cream represents comfort, celebration, and time spent with the people you love. I think that connection naturally found its way into what we do, especially with our kids working for us.

From the beginning, my goal was to do as much in-house as possible, from making the ice cream itself to creating all of our sauces, and even hand-making the chocolate chips for our mint chocolate chip flavor. I also wanted to work with local farms, source the best ingredients available, and use only natural ingredients, leaving out artificial colors and flavors. I truly believe you get out what you put in, and that has proven true not only for the ice cream, but for the business as a whole.

Eleven years later, we still hold those same ideals. We’ve grown and moved into a larger physical space and had a wider reach through word of mouth, recognition on several “Best of Mississippi” lists, and even being mentioned in Food Network Magazine. What brings me the most joy is watching families stand in line together, share a scoop, and make their own memories in our shop, the same way my family once did. I’m incredibly proud that we’ve built something so meaningful to our community from nothing but hopes, dreams, and a lot of hard work.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. The ability to adapt.

In our business, we’ve had to adapt from day one. Originally, we wanted to operate a food truck, but local ordinances didn’t allow it at the time, so we went brick-and-mortar instead. Adaptability has been a constant theme, whether it’s sourcing challenges or staffing issues. My motto has always been, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

2. Not taking things for granted.

I’ve always tried to stop and really take in what’s around me, to be thankful for what I have and how far I’ve come. I try to watch the sunset whenever I can, and I’m still taken aback by seeing families standing in line before we open, just to enjoy something we’ve created. That perspective keeps me grounded.

3. Persistence.

I don’t like to lose, and I want to be good at what I do. Those traits push me to keep going until I’m satisfied with the result. Persistence can be challenging at times, but it definitely makes for good ice cream.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was teach me generosity and empathy.
Even when we were struggling, my father would still help others in need. I have countless memories of him going without to help people he didn’t even know. I believe generosity and empathy go hand in hand. When you truly empathize with someone, you want to help when they’re in need. Those lessons have deeply shaped who I am today, influencing not only how I live my life, but also how I raise my own family.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/area51icecream
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/area51icecream