About Us
As a single father, I’m always looking for things to do with my now 10-year-old daughter. So, one day on Facebook Marketplace, I found a really cool trailer for sale. The trailer was all decorated and outfitted for a young child, girl specifically, to sell lemonade and popcorn and all that fun stuff. It’s painted up pink and purple, the fanciest, coolest trailer for an amped-up lemonade stand. The universe had bigger plans for myself and Emmy, my beautiful daughter!
Right after we purchased this trailer, we took a trip to St. Simons Island, a second home for our family. We went to the village, at St. Simons Island, and went to the fan favorite Sunset Slush. For whatever reason, I inquired about what the process was to become an owner or buy into the business/company. The employee I asked accommodated and gave me a brief synopsis of what the process looked like to become an independent operator and in turn sell Italian ice and being a part of Sunset Slush. Upon arriving back home, I called the owner and bought into the company, became an IO, and started serving Sunset Slush Italian Ice!
I graduated college in 2010 and have been in business and real estate ever since, and obtained a BBA in real estate. I never thought I would be using my degree to run a small business selling Italian ice. But, here I am, here we are, selling Italian ice, and smiles! There’s nothing better than a cold sweet treat during these hot Georgia summers, or really the entire year with the exception of maybe 3 months or so, we don’t really have winters in GA.
In conclusion, we opened Emmy Lou’s Italian Ice, LLC, DBA Sunset Slush CSRA, LLC this past June, 2025. We started the process last June, 2024, but the DPH of Georgia proved to be quite the adversary, and it took quite a while to get everything lined up and meeting regulations. All that being said, we are happy and proud to be an IO and member of Sunset Slush. We have had a lot of fun with it, and the community has embraced us, thankfully! I have yet to hear someone say they didn’t like the product; it really is phenomenal, and far superior to our competitors. We do parties, events, festivals, cater, have a storefront, wherever people gather, etc. We enjoy what we are doing and serving people happiness; it really is fulfilling. We hope for growth and continued success!
Sunset Slush® - Who We Are
The finest and most flavorful Italian Ice arrived via Sunset Slush - Classic Italian Ice® in Brunswick County, North Carolina in January 2003. Sunset Slush® is known for its unique flavor and texture; there is nothing quite like it - it has been called "designer ice." It is smooth, nutritious, thirst-quenching, dairy-free, low in calories, cholesterol free, gluten free and refreshing.
Italian Ice has become one of the fastest growing and most popular segments of the frozen dessert market. The uniqueness of our Super Premium Italian Ice and our passion for the business will make your trip to one of our shoppes, the beach pushcarts or event pushcarts the most enjoyable Italian Ice experience ever.
Sunset Slush - Classic Italian Ice® offers over 50 flavors (including our creative flavor combinations) in our shoppes and our Italian Ice is available in cups, pints, quarts, 1/2 gallon buckets and 2.5 gallon buckets. We also offer Gelatis at our shoppes - any flavor of Italian Ice mixed with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Sunset Slush® is also available for your special event. However you choose to enjoy Sunset Slush - Classic Italian Ice®, we strive to make it an experience to remember.
Sunset Slush® - History
Sunset Slush - Classic Italian Ice® began in January 2003 as a pushcart vending operation. Our original location for vending was the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Route 904 in Brunswick County, NC, along with several other mobile vendors.
Sunset Slush started vending on Ocean Isle Beach, NC and Oak Island, NC in May 2004. Sunset Slush at Ocean Isle Beach opened a shoppe in April 2008 with a walk-up window as a retail operation. Since then, there have been many Independent Operators joining the Slush family. Some have shoppes and others strictly do vending. There are over 140 Independent Operators spread out through Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgina & West Virgina.
About the Owners
Stephen and Catherine Saia are the founders of Sunset Slush - Classic Italian Ice®. They moved to Brunswick County, NC, in September 2002. Stephen is from Boston, MA, and Catherine is from Oakton, VA, a suburb of Washington, DC.
Stephen was a partner in the former ICON Marketing; now Koolabrew. Catherine has her Real Estate License and worked as the Director of Marketing and a Broker at Woodsong in Shallotte for four years. She is a former Board member of Communities in Schools (CIS) and the Brunswick Arts Council.
Both had careers in Telecommunications, prior to moving to Ocean Isle Beach. Stephen owned a Northern Telecom distributorship; following a sales career at Northern Telecom. Catherine was in Sales and Marketing for ROLM, a California based company that was bought out by IBM and then Siemens.
In 2013, just days after Devin graduated from East Carolina University, Donald passed away. Devin then moved home to help the family with the shop.
in 2017 the Sellers family purchased the Ocean Isle Beach, NC and Oak Island, NC locations. In 2020 the Sunset Beach, NC location.
After 12 seasons of being Independent Operators, The Sellers then took over Sunset Slush in 2022. They have grown the business from 110 Independent Operators to over 140 in 2024.
Both are proud of Sunset Slush® and the growth they have seen in the past 20 years. It has been exciting to bring a new product to this area and make it work. They both believe that their success is due to the superior quality of the Italian Ice and their willingness to work hard.
In January 2022, the Saias transitioned the business to the Sellers family. Devin, Drew & Susie.
Devin first started working for the Saias in 2006 as a beach pusher on Ocean Isle Beach.
In 2008 Drew graduated from the University of Wilmington and could not find a job during the great recession. Devin and Drew went to their parents Donald & Susie and discussed opening a Sunset Slush. In 2010 the family opened a store in Holden Beach, NC. Susie quit her day job to help open the shop.
