Faith Utley has long had the desire to own her own restaurant. For years she has dreamt of what a business selling food and creating experiences for loyal customers might feel like. This vision that she sees so vividly while daydreaming was a large part of her decision to return to school and earn a business administration degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2016.
The mother of two tackled school, work, responsibilities at home and volunteering in her church in stride. Now, just three years removed from donning a cap and gown, Utley wears a different hat/uniform combination. While still working her day job at Kimberly Clark, Faith Utley now proudly runs the thriving shaved ice business, Kingdom Snow.
Unfamiliar with Kingdom Snow? Let shaved ice fanatic and frequent Kingdom Snow customer Shelby Boone tell you all about it.
“Kingdom Snow is a shaved ice stand, but it is so much more than that,” Boone says. “I love it because there are so many options. Last summer my boyfriend and I decided to try all of their flavors and it became a game between us. Our goal was to try everything on the menu before the end of the season, and we did. It was definitely one of the highlights of our summer!”
Kingdom Snow’s expanded menu features food items and combo meals, along with the shaved ice they are known for. Items on the menu start at just $1, making for an affordable family outing. While all items are worth eating, Boone suggests customers check out the Kingdom Snow classic, a Goliath-sized mountain of shaved ice, available in over 20 flavors. Combinations of flavors are also available, making for an endless amount of options.
In just three short years, Kingdom Snow has rebranded, expanded their menu, changed buildings and carved out a substantial following of loyal customers, which Utley says come from all over the greater Owensboro area.
“We have one special customer who loves our shaved ice,” Utley said. “She lives in Indiana but drives across the river on a weekly basis. When she pulls up the girls on shift already start making her standing order. She’s not the only one, either. We have several regulars and they are so good to us.”
Though the shaved ice business is now a staple on the west side of Owensboro, Utley still remembers the way Kingdom Snow came about.
“My husband had been telling me a bunch of stories of philanthropists and they were very inspiring,” she said. “As he continued to tell these stories, I began thinking about how to help people in tough situations.”
Utley said she prayed God would give her something she could use to bless others and the same week she was approached about buying a shaved ice business.
“I’d wanted to have a restaurant for a long time but shaved ice hadn’t ever crossed my mind,” she said.
In July 2017, she made the leap of faith and bought the business.
“I love the community and it never gets old driving up and seeing families and friends sitting around enjoying themselves in our seating area,” Utley said.
Kingdom Snow is located at 1326 Carter Road. Follow them on Facebook for up-to-date information about food and specials.
