Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments
Seabrook couple Shirl Ross and William Shaheen had worked very different jobs — she was a massage therapist for more than two decades, and he was a lobster fisherman — when, in 2019, they decided to do something different together. Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments (chubbawubbas@yahoo.com, and on Facebook and Instagram) is indeed not your ordinary business venture. Ross and Shaheen purchased a former Manchester Transit Authority Bus and completely gutted its inside, ripping out all of the seats and adding a full-service kitchen and ice creamery. They make all of their own ice cream on the bus in a variety of flavors, with both traditional and non-dairy options. Other menu items include smoothie bowls, lemonades, bubble teas, cotton candy, as well as coffees and teas, and baked goods like muffins, cookies and doughnuts. Their primary spot is at 570 Lafayette Road in Seabrook, behind Phantom Fireworks and next to Bob’s Furniture — Ross said she will usually post the dates and times they will be there on social media. In addition, Chubba Wubba’s hopes to participate in a few area fairs and festivals this summer. The Scene recently caught up with Ross to talk about her story and some of her favorite things to prepare on the bus.
How long has Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments been around?
We started building things out in the fall of 2019, and it was about July [2020] when we first started putting ourselves out there. For a short period of time during the winter, we were selling pints of ice cream. April 10 was our first day back at 570 Lafayette Road this season.
What makes Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments unique?
We make and sell all of our own ice cream, and we have a phenomenal dairy-free program. I think people appreciate that we do everything on our own and that it’s real homemade ice cream. … We try to be fairly consistent with our flavors. We have everything from vanilla, strawberry and chocolate to banana Oreo and raspberry cheesecake.
What is your personal favorite menu item?
My favorite ice cream flavor is probably our dairy-free lime [and] sweet cherry swirl. … I love our smoothie bowls too. They are very hearty, and we use good-quality fruits. One of my favorites is called the Blue Dream, and it has bananas, blueberries, blue spirulina [and] additional toppings if you want them.
What is something everyone should try?
Our Thai bubble tea. It’s a traditional black tea that we brew and mix with sweetened condensed milk, and then it’s poured over black tapioca pearls and ice.
What celebrity would you like to see ordering from Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments?
[Big-wave surfer] Laird Hamilton. He is a human being who just blows my mind on so many levels. I feel like it would be an honor to serve something to him.
What is an essential skill to running this type of business?
You have to be a people person … [and] to really be able to just connect with your customers and the overall community you’re serving in.
What is your favorite thing about being on the Seacoast?
The smell of the air, and just having such close access to the ocean. It feels like a real blessing.
— Matt Ingersoll
Featured photo: All photos courtesy of Chubba Wubba’s Sweets & Refreshments.