Lorain couple Andy and April Serfozo opened a shaved ice shop July 4, 2022, near the city’s Bascule Bridge, near Black River Landing.
Taking a cue from the Three Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale, the two named their shop Trolls Under The Bridge shaved ice.
The shop was only open through Labor Day in 2022, making for a successful but relatively short season.
April Serfozo’s full-time job as a teacher with Elyria City Schools prevented the two from keeping the shop open any longer.
“We started last year at the end of the year; the (Lorain Port and Finance Authority) had a place available,” Andy Serfozo said. “My wife had this idea of doing shaved ice for a long time, and that was the kind of spot she wanted to have it at.”
According to Andy Serfozo, the Port Authority was extremely receptive to the idea of a shaved ice shop on the Black River Landing.
After school let out this year, the Serfozo family reopened Trolls Under The Bridge.
Andy Serfozo said he hopes the shop’s variety of over 35 flavors this year will bring in even more customers.
“The weather wasn’t that great (for our season opener),” he said. “But, we had a lot of repeat customers from last year right away, and the concert, of course, helped out.
“But it was kind of chilly, so it was nothing spectacular, but it was good.”
Despite the weather, Serfozo was encouraged by the turnout that Trolls Under The Bridge had in its season premiere.
With the support from the Port Authority and other Lorain County-based small businesses, the couple hopes to truly thrive in 2023.
Andy Serfozo said the shop’s signature item, comes from a vacation he and his wife took to North Carolina’s Outer Banks region.
“We do Dippin’ Dots, also,” he said. “That’s where we got the idea from; down in the Outer Banks, they had a shaved ice place.
“They added Dippin’ Dots to the shaved ice. We put them together to make a snow cone with Dippin’ Dots in the middle.”
The Serfozo family is not alone, with multiple small businesses ready to help garner business throughout the summer on Wednesday nights.
Andy Serfozo said this season, the shop will be part of “Wednesdays on the Water” on Black River Landing.
“We’ve got an Italian food truck coming today,” he said June 7. “We have cornhole boards out there. We’ve got Jenga and dice, and we have chalk for the kids to draw on the sidewalk.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff going on down there. Use the park and enjoy the area.”
Andy Serfozo said his goal is to bring more awareness and recognition to the Black River Landing area of the city.
Outside of summer nights during Rockin’ on the River, Lorainites might not know about the businesses tucked away under the bridge, he said.
“I don’t think people come down there and enjoy it enough,” Andy Serfozo said. “They don’t really realize how nice it is down there.
“It’s a nice little park, and people aren’t utilizing it enough during the week and everything. It’s a nice area.”
Those looking to get a taste of the Serfozo family’s offerings at Trolls Under The Bridge can find the shop at 319 Black River Lane from 1 to 9 p.m., daily, through Labor Day.
