Rolled ice cream is sweeping the nation. Originating in Thailand, it was a popular street food called stir-fried ice cream, but now stores all over the States have adopted the rolling method and the name “rolled ice cream.”

 Roll Avenue is a satisfying-to-watch ice cream shops. The family-owned business has an unofficial assistant manager: junior Frankie Chen. He balances his job with honors and AP classes as well as all the other work that junior year brings.The trendy ice cream shop attracts many different people to enjoy the process and flavor of the Thai treat. The shop is a “Place where it allows families to have a fun weekend together,” Chen shared. 

The liquid ice cream is poured onto a freezing slab and spread into a flat, wide rectangle, where it solidifies. Then it is rolled into individual rolls and finished off with toppings that are added for presentation. 

Chen revealed, “I’ve been working there since I was 14, but I have really started to take it seriously and manage it this year.” His family owns the shop and when his parents are not there Chen steps up to manage the store. Although he is only there two full days a week, he also has to cover employee’s shifts when they can’t make it to work. 

“Sometimes when employees are sick or want to take a vacation day, usually I have to fill in for them and along with school, I’m taking a lot of AP and honors classes, it can be a lot of stress sometimes,” Chen added. Managing a small business on top of being an academically excellent student is quite a feat. Many students can not manage to support their grades and a part-time job, let alone manage one. 

Although he handles it well, Chen isn’t immune to the stress and pressure that come hand-in-hand with a family business. He remarked, “ It is really stressful, since my parents own the place, If I don’t do something right, it affects my whole family.” 

 Despite the pressure on him, Chen was unconcerned about managing employees as a teenager. “When it’s time to get some work done, I really show them that they need to listen to me and they understand that,” he asserted.  Being respected by employees, who may be older than him, is impressive at the least. The maturity required in management positions, being held by someone at his age is rare and shows a lot of promise for his future.