A warm spot for Maricopa

Maricopa’s Water and Ice store is celebrating its 10th year in business. Co-owners Mike and Tonya Thompson started the business in 2004 after successful careers in the casino business, and they’ve never looked back.

“We were regularly going to the Water and Ice location in Chandler, and we loved it” Tonya says.

“Somehow, we got into a conversation with the owner there, and before we knew it, we were setting up shop in Maricopa, and I’ve loved it. I’ve put my heart and soul into this business, and after my family, it’s my second love.

”The store sells filtered water and ice at its location, rents and sells coolers, and delivers to homes and businesses in the Maricopa area. It’s also the place to go for Thrifty Ice Cream, a popular brand throughout the West, along with candy, smoothies and many other treats.

Tonya was born and raised in Maricopa, and except for a brief stint in Washington state, has lived her whole life in the community.

“This is truly my hometown, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” she says. “People here are just as you would expect them to be in a small town —friendly, caring and generally close-knit. That’s the kind of town I can be proud of.”

As she looked back over their 10 years in business, she was quick to acknowledge that it “hasn’t been all smooth sailing,” conceding there were “a couple of really rocky years when the real estate crunch happened.”

It was during those tough years that Tonya started a practice that has since come to be their business mantra: namely,
giving a “little bit extra.” When customers ordered smoothies, Tonya started giving them just a little more in a second cup.

“Customers seemed to really appreciate that little gesture,” she says, “so we started applying it to other things we do, and it kind of became our trademark.”

Among those other things she referred to are support for community events,
causes and non-profits. They regularly donate water and ice to local sports teams. They hold ice cream socials at the fire department.

“We really do care about Maricopa and the people who live here,” she says. “The more we can contribute to the quality of life, the better community Maricopa will be.

”Water and Ice was not immune to the ebbs and flows of a new business, especially one that experienced the boom and bust in Maricopa.

“Well, things were really crazy for the first couple of years we were in business,” she recalls. “It seemed like we were just covered up all the time, and it was a shock when that slowed down. But after a couple of dark years, we’re seeing good steady traffic.

”Does she think that is true for all of Maricopa?

“Oh, I definitely think Maricopa is growing, but now at a whole lot more measured pace. And frankly, I think that’s exactly the kind of growth we need,” Tonya says.

Where does the entrepreneurial couple expect to take the business in coming years?

“Since Baskin and Robbins closed here, we’re getting into ice cream cakes, which is a very popular item,” she says. “We’re also looking at adding gourmet iced coffee, and perhaps gourmet hot coffee at some point. And of course, we’re always looking to expand our water delivery business.

”Including Mike and Tonya, Water and Ice has nine employees, and “we hope to expand our staff in the coming years,” she says.

Asked if she had any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Tonya suggests the most important elements in a successful business are “patience, a firm belief in yourself, a willingness to continually learn and grow, and keeping close track of the finances.

”It seems that credo has made Water and Ice a Maricopa success story for the past 10 years. That, and the willingness to “give a little extra.”