Check Out Kim Athans’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Athans.

Hi Kim, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From One Van to a Thriving Business: The Story of Athans Ice House
On the Friday leading into Memorial Day weekend of 2016, Nick punched the time clock at Arctic Glacier for the last time. At 1:00 PM, he clocked out, got in his car, and headed toward a new chapter—our very own business, Athans Ice House, in Whittier, California.
We were two adults in our 50s, stepping into entrepreneurship for the first time. Nick brought with him over 30 years of experience in the ice industry. I, on the other hand, only knew that ice was something you bought at gas stations and grocery stores. But together, we were driven by a shared goal: to build something of our own.
Humble Beginnings
The original Athans Ice House wasn’t much to look at—just two refrigerated containers and a small office in Whittier. Before we opened, Nick purchased a 2013 Ford van, had it insulated, and that became our first delivery vehicle. We waited, hoping for customers and phone calls.
And they did come—slowly at first. The Whittier community proved to be incredibly supportive, and many of those early customers still follow us today. But relying on walk-ins wasn’t enough. We placed ads on Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor, launched a website, knocked on doors, passed out business cards, and hustled—every single day.
As word spread, one client led to another. We reinvested into the business, adding new equipment like an event trailer, a refrigerated Ford F250, and even our first snow-making machine. We worked seven days a week for years and didn’t take a real vacation for nearly seven years.
Growing with Grit
There were times when exhaustion overwhelmed us. I remember working 12–14 hour days, delivering up to 10 pallets or 20,000 pounds of ice in one day with a rented truck—just to save costs. With tears streaming down my face, Nick would remind me: This is what we signed up for. Slowly but surely, our efforts paid off.
We purchased our first delivery box truck in 2019, and in 2021, a Ford Transit Van—affectionately called the “Shoulder Saver.” No more hand-loading ice; we could now load entire pallets with a forklift, and that changed everything.
A Trusted Partner
Our dedication and reliability earned us a reputation within the powerline and utility industries. One job led to another, and soon we were approached to service the LAX People Mover project—an opportunity that required us to be a certified small business. In 2020, we earned our first certification, and many more followed.
Today, we are proud partners in major public and private events across Southern California, including:
• 626 Night Market
• FoodieLand
• LA Wine Fest
• BeachLife Festival
• I Love R&B Music Festivals
• Eastconn
… and many more.
Expanding Into Snow and Service
As demand grew, so did our offerings. In addition to ice, we added bottled water service for our construction clients and expanded into real snow production from November through March. In 2024 alone, we completed over 80 snow jobs with two full teams running on weekends—our most successful snow season to date.
In December 2024, we took a major step forward by reorganizing Athans Ice House as a Certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise, with me assuming majority ownership. We are now certified by SoCal Edison, the State of California Department of General Services, and the County of Los Angeles, with additional certifications underway.
Living the American Dream
We’ve hit annual sales goals we never dreamed possible. Our team now includes two full-time drivers plus Nick, and I handle marketing, new business, accounting—and yes, I still jump into a delivery when needed.
We started with one insulated van, a rundown building, and a dream. But more than that, we had determination. Failure wasn’t an option. We were done punching time clocks. It was up to us to make it work—and we did.
Athans Ice House has grown into a premier packaged ice distributor and snow provider because of hard work, heart, and hustle. We’re proud of what we’ve built—and even more excited about what’s next.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Humble Beginnings
The original Athans Ice House wasn’t much to look at—just two refrigerated containers and a small office in Whittier. Before we opened, Nick purchased a 2013 Ford van, had it insulated, and that became our first delivery vehicle. We waited, hoping for customers and phone calls.
And they did come—slowly at first. The Whittier community proved to be incredibly supportive, and many of those early customers still follow us today. But relying on walk-ins wasn’t enough. We placed ads on Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor, launched a website, knocked on doors, passed out business cards, and hustled—every single day.
As word spread, one client led to another. We reinvested into the business, adding new equipment like an event trailer, a refrigerated Ford F250, and even our first snow-making machine. We worked seven days a week for years and didn’t take a real vacation for nearly seven years.
Growing with Grit
There were times when exhaustion overwhelmed us. I remember working 12–14 hour days, delivering up to 10 pallets or 20,000 pounds of ice in one day with a rented truck—just to save costs. With tears streaming down my face, Nick would remind me: This is what we signed up for. Slowly but surely, our efforts paid off.
We purchased our first delivery box truck in 2019, and in 2021, a Ford Transit Van—affectionately called the “Shoulder Saver.” No more hand-loading ice; we could now load entire pallets with a forklift, and that changed everything.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Nick has been in the ice business for over 40 years now. He started in the summer of 1981 as part time delivery driver. He has tried other jobs like outside sales in the family business, Sales wasn’t for him. He’s a little on the shy side and cold calls were not his thing.

Kim on the other hand….she lives for the sale. Dubbed a “Chatty Cathy” by her kindergarten teacher, she has lived up to her nickname. Kim has always had a job where she engages with the public. Selling everything from womans clothes, to mutual funds to radio advertising.

Together, we make a great team. Nick with his knowledge of the ice business and Kim’s sales skills. We have been an amazing team.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Nothing comes easy. Owning your own business is not for the faint of heart.

When things go wrong, there is no one to blame but yourself.

Never give your customer a reason to call your competition. Nick and I pride ourselves in having the best service in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: athansicehouse@gmail.com
• Instagram: Athans_Ice_House
• Facebook: Athans Ice House
• LinkedIn: Kim Athans