LOCAL

Iconic York Fair vendor Lola's Hot Waffles and Ice Cream will not be returning this year

Portrait of Lena Tzivekis Lena Tzivekis
York Daily Record

The owner of Lola's Hot Waffles and Ice Cream, known for their made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, has announced she's retiring the stand, which has been feeding York State Fair goers for over 60 years.

Judy Nace is set to turn 80 years old next month and has been in the waffle and ice cream business for as long as she can remember. Her mother-in-law was Lola, a North Carolina native who traveled to different fairs selling confections out of Allentown.

Lola's Hot Waffles and Ice Cream now features Beck's Ice Cream after a previous vendor stopped producing the signature thick slices of ice cream.

Nace took over the stand with her husband Guy when Lola died. A few years later, when her husband passed away, she carried on the tradition by running the waffle and ice cream stand as well as the lemonade stand.

"As far as I know, we're not continuing," Nace said. In the last few years, Nace said she's experienced less business than in past years.

"The business we used to get, we don't seem to have anymore, even after the concerts at night."

The Lola's stand almost saw the end a few years ago when Hershey stopped supplying the frozen ice cream bricks they used for sandwiches. That's when Beck's Ice Cream stepped in and helped Nace by making and supplying the booth with their homemade bricks.

Judy Nace, left, works with Savannah Keller on perfecting her waffle making on 70-year-old waffle makers at Lola's Hot Waffles & Ice Cream at the York State Fair. Keller's grandmother Linda Brillhart, a good friend of Nace, worked at Lola's for about 20 years, starting about 35 years ago.

At times, even her 75-year-old waffle irons gave her a scare but have survived many repairs.

Despite the hurdles, Nace kept the stands up and running with the help of her family and friends, many of whom Nance said are getting older, and some are suffering from health issues.

"I appreciate all the customers that we've had, and I want thank them all for the business over the years."