Robin Jensen
Owner of 605 Scoops
The Jensen Family
From the left is Braden, Kayla, Lynn, Robin & Abby
“You just have to ask people; if you don’t ask, it’s an automatic no!” This belief is what landed Robin Jensen of 605 Scoops, 34 events booked before even launching. She operates under the mindset that if you wait for things to come to you, they might never happen. But this isn’t just something she preaches - it’s something she practices.
Three summers ago, when Robin and her family were out in Washington, they came across a guy selling ice cream out of a camper. Having worked at Twist Cone for 14 years part-time and four full years full-time, ice cream has always been something she was drawn to. That truck felt like a sign. She knew the time to launch her own business was now.
Robin has always dreamed of being a business owner. Her daughter, Abby, a student at Northern State University, shares the same passion for ice cream. With around five years of experience in the ice cream business, Abby was the perfect person for Robin to rely on as her right hand. As Robin’s husband approached retirement and her daughter and son-in-law, both teachers, looked forward to summers off, she saw an opportunity. Together, they decided to open a mobile ice cream truck
At first, she wasn’t sure if a truck was the way to go. She describes going back and forth between a trailer and a truck. Her daughter, Kayla, had already designed a truck as the logo for 605 Scoops, and before long, they came across a truck that matched the logo perfectly.
Even the logo itself invokes feelings of nostalgia, and that feeling doesn’t end there. It carries into the flavors 605 Scoops will offer, with up to 20 flavors available. Sixteen will be standard flavors offered all the time, with four seasonal flavors rotating throughout the year. Some of these include Cookies N Cream, Monster Cookie, I’m Your Huckleberry, Birthday Cake, French Silk Pie, Chocolate Bear Creek Caramel, and plenty more. As I was looking through the flavor offerings, one thing was clear: every flavor is intentional, each tied to unique memories and offering something you won’t find in grocery store freezers. That intentionality is even seen in Robin’s plan to offer root beer floats as a tribute to her grandpa, a root beer float superfan who practically kept the small drive-in in her hometown of Litchville, North Dakota, in business with his daily (and sometimes twice-daily) orders.
What’s especially exciting is that all but one weekend is already booked for 605 Scoops from June through August. The flexibility of the truck is another big draw. Events can either book the truck with one host covering the total tab, or guests can purchase individually, making it a perfect fit for school functions, parties, and employee or customer appreciation events.
Robin shares that she’s excited for all events, but especially the downtown ones. She recalls attending downtown events like car shows and always wishing there was an ice cream truck, and now that wish will finally be a reality thanks to 605 Scoops.
Before officially launching, Robin is already finding meaningful ways to give back. As a thank-you to the K.O. Lee Library for being her very first official booking, she’s providing free popsicles for young readers at the Summer Reading Program kickoff. She’s also received inquiries about events at Fort Sisseton Historic Festival and Potato Days in Clark, a sign that excitement is already building around her new venture. Her goal is simple: she wants people to see the truck and instantly feel happy and nostalgic, creating moments that bring the community together.
Robin is also a participant in the Northern Startup Center’s Idea to Market program. She shares that the program has helped her think beyond what she was already considering. It’s opened doors for networking, but most importantly, it’s been reassuring to know she’s on the right path.
As for the 34 events already booked, Robin credits strong community connections and Facebook as game changers. Her daughter started the business’s Facebook page, and it’s already gaining traction. She hopes to launch an Instagram page soon as well. Facebook has been a valuable tool not just for marketing, but for discovering events across the community. They’ve also equipped the truck with Square to make transactions easier for customers.
Robin’s advice for anyone on the fence about starting a business or even exploring an idea is simple: Do it. You only live once. You don’t have to know everything; you just have to know the people who do, and you’ll meet them along the way.
As for her “why,” it’s family. Robin wanted to start a business because the 9–5 didn’t allow her to spend enough time with them. She wanted more flexibility while doing something she truly loved. Now, with her daughters Kayla and Abby, son-in-law Braden, and husband Lynn all helping run the truck, they’re spending more time together, bonding as a family over their shared love of ice cream.
