Магазин воды и льда в Сокорро расширяет ассортимент снежными конусами и местными товарами

Socorro’s Water and Ice store adds sweet local flair New owners of Water and Ice are expanding beyond purified water with snow cones, homemade treats and locally made products. When Christy and Matthew Harris took over Socorro’s Water and Ice store in April 2025, Christy knew she wanted the business to be more than a place to fill up a jug. The couple has been steadily expanding the store’s offerings, combining purified water and ice with locally made products, fudge, and a huge assortment of snow cone flavors. “We wanted to try to change it up and not just have water and ice because we’re in such a small town and there’s really nowhere to shop unless you want to shop online,” Christy Harris said. “We are trying to support local.” Loathed at 417 N. California St., the Water and Ice store offers several types of purified water, including reverse-osmosis, alkaline and deionized water. Reverse-osmosis water is the primary water used to make the store’s ice, which the couple bags themselves in 10-pound bags. They also make blocks of ice weighing roughly 10 to 12 pounds, which are particularly useful for hunters and people traveling long distances. The store also sells water in a variety of containers, including two-, three- and five-gallon bottles, glass bottles and one-gallon jugs. Customers can purchase equipment such as bottle pumps, spigots and dispensers, and ceramic water crocks, as well. Customers who purchase a bottle from the store can fill it for free, including with alkaline water, which has a higher pH balance than tap water. Harris said she encourages customers to try the different types of water to see what they prefer. The store also has an outdoor water machine that operates 24 hours a day. Customers can use bills or change to purchase water outside the store. Harris said she became familiar with the water-and-ice concept while living in Arizona, where she said similar stores are common. “In Arizona, they’re so popular,” she said. “One on every corner.” Those stores often combine water and ice with snow cones, candy and other products. Harris brought the snow cone tradition to the Socorro store and has expanded the selection to roughly 40 to 45 flavors. The snow cones were already part of the business when the Harrises took over, but Harris saw an opportunity to promote them more heavily. “It’s so hot here, and who doesn’t like snow cones?” she said. The Harrises will take their Water and Ice booth to the fair rodeo, where they plan to sell their own bottled reverse-osmosis water in 16.9-ounce and one-liter bottles, alongside snowcones. During the rodeo, they will also offer a dozen flavors of homemade fudge, pickles, cotton candy and a selection of handmade and locally sourced goods. Back at the brick-and-mortar, Harris said the store’s shelves reflect her desire to support small producers and offer Socorro residents items they might otherwise have to order online. Among the products are local eggs, honey products from Bee Chama, jewelry made by San Antonio resident Carol Lucero, and homemade car fresheners. Harris also makes many of the store’s decorative products herself, including sun catchers, resin jewelry, diamond-painting keychains and small decorative pieces. “We’re still slowly working on bringing more stuff in,” Harris said. That includes plans to potentially expand the store’s hours. The current schedule is Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but Harris said she is considering opening on weekends so customers — particularly families and children — have more opportunities to visit. “We’re in such a small town,” she said. “I want to have little knickknacks for people to buy, like little gifts or something. Something fun to do.”