When Destiny Atkins was young, she’d make sweet treats with her grandmother, and that turned into a passion for making desserts for family and friends.
Decades later when she had the idea to start her business, Gimme the Scoop, it was her grandmother who paved the way.
Raised by her grandma, Destiny tried Italian ice on a trip to California, and she wanted to introduce it to a wider audience in Omaha. Her dream was to start her own business, but the cost for an Italian ice machine and other needed equipment was prohibitive. While discussing the idea, her grandma said she’d pay for it.
Since starting the business in 2022, the Gimme the Scoop food truck is in high demand. From May to October, Gimme the Scoop is frequently booked for events. Though her grandmother passed away, Destiny has continued the business in her honor, even putting a tribute on the side of her food truck.
“It’s become this huge thing, and people love it. And introducing something new to Omaha is just a great feeling,” Destiny said. “I know my grandmother would be proud.”
Italian ice is a dairy-free, sweet and frozen treat that cools off Gimme the Scoop’s customers on a hot day.
“It’s not like ice cream. It’s not like gelato,” Destiny said. “It’s a completely whole different world.”
The three most important things to Gimme the Scoop are family, quality and community.
Gimme the Scoop is the definition of a small family business, employing Destiny and a handful of family members to book events, operate the truck and, of course, make and serve treats. And Destiny takes quality seriously, as introducing a new product such as Italian ice to Omaha means many people are having it for the first time. Ensuring she has a quality product means her customers will come back.
Destiny loves the community that has sprung up around Gimme the Scoop. During warmer months — May through October, generally — Gimme the Scoop can be found at farmers’ markets, corporate events, parties and pop-ups all over town.
“It’s nice to meet new people and feel connected to everybody, and not just where I’m from in North Omaha,” Destiny said. “It just helps you grow. It’s really crazy how it works.”
Part of that community is the Omaha Chamber and its member businesses. Having the Omaha Chamber on her side has been instrumental in Gimme the Scoop’s success.
Most importantly, Destiny has found numerous opportunities to network with other business owners through the Chamber, hearing their startup stories and learning how other businesses operate.
“A lot of people start off just like me. They have advice and things that I can learn from,” she said. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be in the room with those people who have been doing it for these years.”
For fellow entrepreneurs, Destiny has a little advice: “You have to love what you do.”
“You want to have a passion for what you do,” she said. “I’ve even had to fall in love with the hard parts, because it’s not easy running a business, especially being small like me, because I have to kind of do everything.”
