SOLANA BEACH — The owners of a new Solana Beach ice cream shop are continuing a family’s soft serve legacy that originated in Vista over 60 years ago and making it their own.
Solana Frosty, owned by local residents Kristen and Richard Villaseñor, is located at the intersection of Lomas Santa Fe Drive and Cedros Avenue and plans to offer soft serve and hard scoop ice cream, as well as shave ice, boba, dirty drinks, milkshakes, dairy-free options, and more.
The business plans to open this week, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place on July 11 with the Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Solana Frosty’s menu is largely inspired by that of the iconic Pepper Tree Frosty in Vista. Richard’s family has operated the restaurant since 1959 and is known for its wide array of nostalgic ice cream, milkshakes, burgers, and fries.
Richard’s grandparents, Chuy and Velia, bought the restaurant in 1959 when it was still a Tastee-Freez, with his parents, Danny and Linda, taking over in 1984.
“We’re taking their greatest hits and adding some other stuff,” said Richard, who grew up working at the Pepper Tree with his parents. “We were just going to simplify [the menu], but we didn’t end up simplifying … we just kept expanding.”
While the couple will both manage the business, Solana Frosty has been a dream of Kristen’s for many years. The dream started to become a reality in the fall when the family began talks with the property owner about the pending departure of Subway from its prime location at Lomas Santa Fe and Cedros.
The Villaseñors began construction in the space in February, installing bright blue tile, signage and all the necessary equipment — including the same soft serve machine that can be found at the Pepper Tree — to make their delicious treats.
Kristen said she hopes Solana Frosty can be a place for families to come after school, sports games or a day at Fletcher Cove and for visitors to enjoy as they explore Highway 101 and the Cedros shopping district.
“My thing I’m most excited about is to be that place that people can go and make memories. My in-laws have that — it’s very mom-and-pop,” said Kristen, who is originally from the Midwest.
While Richard’s family has strong ties to Vista, his roots trace back several generations to Solana Beach’s historic La Colonia de Eden Gardens community, where his mom, Linda, was born.
Danny Villaseñor, who continues to operate the Pepper Tree with Linda, said he is excited to see a new chapter begin in Solana Beach after seeing so many members of his family work at the Pepper Tree.
“Everybody’s worked here, and it’s just been really exciting to have this opportunity to be part of Vista, and now we can reach even further and go into our community in Solana Beach,” Danny said. “I think Solana Beach is ready for a place like Solana Frosty, and we are so very proud to be a part of it, and of Kristen and Rich and all the hard work they’ve put into getting it going.”
For Kristen and Richard, Danny and Linda’s guidance as they start their business has been invaluable.
“Starting from scratch was just a whole other beast,” Kristen said.
While community excitement for Solana Frosty has been growing, ultimately, no one has been more excited for the shop’s opening than Kristen and Richard’s two young daughters, Bailey and Elyse. By pursuing their passions, their parents hope to set a good example for them.
“They can see their mom doing this, and for them to see this, that’s priceless,” Richard said.
Solana Frosty is located at 124 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Suite 101. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit solanafrosty.com.
