It’s been one year since Tiffany and Ryan Newswander of Aledo launched the city’s first Ice and Water Kiosk — and the self-serve station is proving to be a cool success.
Located in the 700 block of SW 3rd Street near Dollar General, the kiosk was installed on a formerly vacant lot through the Newswanders’ company, RTN Properties LLC. The site also benefits from being part of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, aiding its development.
When the machine first opened, there wasn’t a grand launch date. “The date kind of moved around a bit, so people discovered it gradually,” Tiffany Newswander said. “But once folks started trying it, we saw the numbers grow steadily — especially going into summer and again during our November water promotion.”
Thanks to the machine’s digital dashboard, the Newswanders can track usage by the day and hour. “Fridays and Saturdays are really strong,” Tiffany noted. “People are prepping for the weekend, and that’s when we see the biggest spike in traffic.”
She says they’ve also been surprised at just how many people depend on clean ice and water every day — and they’re proud to provide both through a system that uses reverse osmosis filtration. “It’s great knowing we’re offering something people trust and come back for. More and more customers are learning about the quality, and it keeps growing.”
From a bare lot to a bustling stop for ice and water, the project has turned into a model of small-town entrepreneurship. One year in, the Newswanders say they’re grateful for the support and excited about the seasons ahead.