Tim and Lauren York have brought a popular East Coast delight right here to Kansas City: Italian ice. A cross between sorbet and shaved ice, Italian ice is refreshing and perfect for hot, muggy KC summers.
The couple is serving up their icy treats from a pink and orange pastel-hued trailer emblazoned with their business’s moniker, Neon Palm Ice. It can be found at the Overland Park Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The Yorks started their business in 2018 when they were living in Northern California. When they decided to move back to KC, Tim’s hometown, in 2024, it was easy to bring their mobile business with them. Tim uses his bartending experience to create recipes, and Lauren works on the brand.
The Yorks pulled inspiration from Palm Springs, California, and tossed around all sorts of vibrant and fun words before choosing Neon Palm for their summer-inspired business.
“I was like, that’s amazing, so that’s where we landed,” says Lauren when talking about creating their brand.
Their Italian ice ingredients include real cane sugar, water and fresh fruit—some days straight from the farmers market. Fluffy and smooth, each cup is vegan, dairy- and gluten-free.
If you can’t decide between strawberry, tropical mango, lime, pineapple, watermelon, piňa colada, lemon or blackberry lemon mint, to name just a few, don’t worry; you’re allowed to sample and mix.
“Our favorite combo is the blackberry lemon mixed with piňa colada,” Tim says. “It’s just refreshing. It’s a lot of different flavors, but they all work really well together.” Based on a recent visit, the piña colada and mojito also pair nicely.
Specialty flavors such as Mai Tai and spiced pear will make menu appearances, as will the occasional collaborations with local wineries.
The Yorks’ trailer can also be booked for events. To learn more, visit neonpalmice.com.
