This is Tehama: The Mothers and Daughters of Bud’s Jolly Kone

Who puts a twinkle in the eyes of North State kids? Who put a twinkle in a young sailor’s eye, so much that he hitchhiked home from San Diego every weekend to see her? Her name is Pat Carrel, the one behind the colorful soft-serve ice cream that brings kids running, and the one married to her high school sweetheart for 58 years. And who puts the twinkle in her eye? The twinkle in her eye shows when talking about her co-workers, daughter Theresa Abbassi, and granddaughter Courtny Abbassi. All three women co-own Bud’s Jolly Kone in Red Bluff, CA.

When Courtny took over most of the management in 2013, she said it was like being handed a “well-oiled machine,” built by the entire family with a lot of years, love and elbow grease.

Shortly after Bob and Pat Carrel were married, Pat started working at Bud’s while Bob worked nearby with his brother at their Carrel Brothers Norwalk Service Station. In the days before the fast food giants had come to town, Bud’s was built on William G. Taber’s rock quarry site and was one of many new hamburger joints springing up along the North State corridor. These stands were started in Blaire’s Leasing metal buildings to house the all-important Taylor Ice Cream Machine or the “dream machine.” Hard on the heels of the depression era, soft-serve ice cream had taken America by storm, and it was here to stay.

In 1967, Bob sold his service station and took over the lease of Bud’s. Pat brought their young children to work and laid young Theresa on the bread rack to nap. It is no wonder that business and the hard-work ethic got into the Carrel children’s blood and all three are now successful business owners in Red Bluff.

Fast cars, fast boats and catering trucks have all traveled on this journey with the Carrel family, with multiple businesses running simultaneously and making for very long hours. Pat remembers when they kept Bud’s open all night to feed the hunters during hunting season. Before long, Courtny was the young one taking naps at Bud’s. Theresa laid her down on cardboard on the floor—now Courtny can’t get the business out of her veins! In 1994, the Carrels purchased the property from Taber and later added a parking lot which boosted business. Each generation has added to Pat’s original foundation of hard work, generosity and integrity. Theresa emphasizes her mother’s generous heart and says that it is “impossible to out-give.” Courtny started the yearly “Cops and Kones” benefit where the local police serve ice cream and the proceeds go to the Red Bluff Police Department. All three woman agree the biggest challenge is training new employees. Theresa adds, “the ‘me’ generation needs, more than ever, to learn the importance of hard work and giving.”

Pat has backed off a little with her part of the business, but she is still there every morning cutting up tomatoes, leafing lettuce and washing floors. I asked her if she would take up a hobby while on vacation. Knitting, perhaps? “No, I take the taco bags with me. They have to be slit just right.”

It is a toss-up as to what is more popular at Bud’s– the tacos or hamburgers. One long-time local loves the thick milkshakes. For our family, it is the overall feel of the place. Joy and love seep out of that well-oiled machine. Who isn’t up for a slow cruise on Antelope Boulevard and a colorful soft-serve ice cream? Be sure to look for Pat and her girls. They will put a twinkle in your eye!