The family-run, Louisiana-inspired snow cone shop brought its signature soft shaved ice and bold flavors to the area in February 2024. But the business also has deeply rooted history in the Houston area, co-owner Crystal Tankersley Ikeakor said.
Ikeakor said the growth of SnoDreamz in Houston is a testament to the family dreams her now-deceased mother sowed decades ago.
“We give all the glory to God,” Ikeakor said. “Even with the loss of my mom, we’ve felt his guidance every step of the way. She’s smiling down on us, and we’re just getting started.”
The history
Ikeakor’s snow cone journey began in the ’80s when her mother, New Orleans native Denise Tankersley, started selling the icy treats in Houston’s South Park area with her husband, John Tankersley.
That original shack eventually led to the family’s flagship location opening in 2011 on Fondren Road, which is still run by Ikeakor’s father; this was followed by a second location in the Third Ward on Scott Street, run by Ikeakor’s sister, Courtney Tankersley.
However, opening the third Houston-area shop in Missouri City was bittersweet, Ikeakor said. Denise Tankersley passed away in October 2023, just months before its December opening.
“She was with us through the whole planning process,” Ikeakor said. “I know she’s proud. Just because that's what we've always wanted to do is just continue to open [new] locations.”
SnoDreamz offers more than just a frozen treat—it’s a cultural experience, Ikeakor said. She said customers, both locals and transplants, quickly learn what makes a New Orleans-style snowball special.
“It’s the ice,” Ikeakor said. “The ice is really soft—not like the hard, crunchy kind. There’s tons of different flavors ... [and] all the toppings—from the cream, to the ice cream, to whipped cream, crushed strawberries, cheesecake, gummy bears [and] pickles.”
To keep the business thriving during cooler months, SnoDreamz Missouri City also serves wings, fries, boudin balls, tacos and funnel cakes.
“A lot of snow cone shops shut down [after the summer],” Ikeakor said. “But our goal in having this space is that we really want to be able to sustain throughout the down season.”
Ikeakor said the community is at the heart of everything SnoDreamz does—from knowing their regulars by name and flavor to raising the next generation in the family business.
“We want to pass this on,” Ikeakor said. “We want to grow, franchise and eventually expand outside of Houston. People are always asking when we’re coming to their city."
- 1731 Texas Parkway, Missouri City
- www.snodreamztx.com
