Christian Puma is a transplant from Long Island, NY and the owner of Puma’s Italian Ice Shack & Cafe. Proud husband to his amazing wife Christine, Christian has two amazing children, Christian Jr. (13) and Camryn Rae (9). Together, they make up a tight knit army of four. His family is usually together at the store, and you can find the kids from time to time behind the counter. Christian believes that there is no greater lesson than working and learning the family business.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My father Michael C. Puma retired as the Vice President of American Security Systems in Manhattan. The company’s focus was designing large scale high end security systems for large corporate offices. From time to time he would find himself working in celebrity apartments and music studios in NYC, not to mention Trump Towers.
Well, my maternal great grandparents migrated to the United States from Italy back in the early 1900’s and started All Metal Chocolate Molds in the Bronx, NY. The company was then handed to my Grandfather Ned Micelli, who rebranded the business to Micelli Chocolate Molds and moved the business to Babylon, NY. My grandfather Ned and Uncles John and Joseph ran the business for decades with my mother Theresa Puma managing Office Administrations. Once I got a license and realized that cars needed gas, I worked on the factory floor producing the molds and packaging them for our clients. We make some of the most famous chocolate molds that you still see in stores today.
My wife’s father Albert Karp (Burt) was an airplane mechanic in the US Air Force in Vietnam. Once his military career ended, Burt found himself once again on the “runways” working as a Quality Assurance Inspector for American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jane Karp worked in the Oklahoma school district and raised the children. Jane just recently retired as an Executive Assistant and Project Manager for an Interior Decorator. Today they both reside in Broken Arrow, OK.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
In my former life, I was the Director of Quality Assurance & Support Operations for NBC Local News in the famous 30 Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan. As a member of the technology team, we built each of the 26 Owned & Operated News Stations websites, iPhone & Droid Applications (NBCNewYork.com, NBCMiami.com & many more).
I have been involved in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Presidential and Local Elections as well as the Winter and Summer Olympics, not to mention countless hours supporting many of the memorable events in United States History such as the horrific Boston Marathon Bombing and Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III, who successfully landed his American Airlines Airbus A320 with 155 people on board into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.
In May 2017, I was recruited for a startup tech company in Downtown Charleston. After long discussions, my wife and I agreed that in August 2017 we would accept a relocation to the Summerville area from the tech company. In May 2020, almost three years to the day, as the world came to a complete stop, I joined millions of hard working citizens on the unemployment line. I was laid off. Finding a job in my area of expertise remains my #1 focus. This change had me pondering how I was going to support my family; retirement and savings accounts will only go so far.
Today, my family finds itself reinvented. While I continue to scour the internet for potential job opportunities, taking every interview and meeting that comes my direction, my family and I have decided to take matters into our own hands. We embarked on an entrepreneurial journey and created Puma’s Italian Ice Shack & Cafe in Downtown Historic Summerville. Here the family serves up the best Authentic Homemade NY Italian Ices, which are shipped down from Long Island along with the Best Hot Dogs in town. Puma’s Italian Ice Shack & Cafe is located at 115 East Richardson Avenue, Summerville, in between Fleet Feet & Accents II Barbershop.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
WOW… That is NOT fair. There are so many amazing places! We prefer the local family owned spots …. After this past year, I hope we all have learned a thing or two. With this being said, here is a list of “Puma’s Go To’s:”
- – Pizza & Italian Bistro in Sangree & Knightsville
- – King’s Pizza on Ladson Road
- – Asian Asian Gourmet on Dorchester
- – 843 Sushi
- – Greek Opa Grill on Dorchester
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We have lived in South Carolina since August of ‘17 and have been loving it. This decision has made a huge difference in our family dynamic and brought us closer together.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Wow… Well the friends we have met in our community have become like family to us. They have helped us so much on this journey in so many ways that we can’t even explain. Since opening up our store in Historic Summerville, we have met so many amazing people and heard so many incredible stories. For us, this question is extremely difficult. To single out one or a few people does not seem fair. Coming from Long Island, there is not much of a military presence, so meeting these men & women that serve our country and listening to some stories has been such an honor.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
If I had a time machine, I would go back to Lake George, NY on the boat out on the water where it is tranquil and peaceful – no cell signal, no internet. It was a place that my entire family would vacation in my younger years. I would love to see us all together; I miss my grandparents.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The original Star Wars movies are my absolute favorite – Empire Strikes Back to be precise. The Marvel Cinematic Universe also has me hooked. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I get to relax and watch them. As for TV Shows: Breaking Bad, Newsroom, Person of Interest … there are a few others.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Get up and DO IT! Stop looking for reasons why you can’t do what you want to do. DO IT. We only get 1 body and 1 life. And be well to each other. We need to lift each other up. There is no time for drama!
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Puma’s Italian Ice Shack was on my list and 2020 was a catalyst for us. To be honest, I don’t really have one beyond that. Now, with that being said, I hope that one day I can take my wife on the honeymoon trip to Italy that she has always dreamed of.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Beatles, Billy Joel, Pearl Jam, Van Hallen, Metallica, Motley Crue – anything from 80’s Rock. Or the Guardian’s of the Galaxy Channel on Pandora is pretty cool.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Italian Bistro in Knightsville & Sangree along with Kings Pizza on Ladson Road. To me they feel like my favorite 80’s style pizzeria back home on Long Island.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
This is an awesome question. I think I would love to sit down with Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World. I love his approach to business and I am an avid fan of his TV Show, The Profit. I would appreciate his constructive criticism. I think I would take him to Coastal Coffee Roasters or the Charleston Bakery & Deli.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The people, the history, and how supportive the community is of local family business as well as the faith that they all possess.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Well, since I just moved to SC, I believe in our vision for Puma’s Italian Ice Shack. I hope that we can expand the business with a few more locations, and my family can create jobs for the community that has given so much support to us. We want to give back.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
This by far is the hardest question. I am pretty much an open book– what you see is what you get kinda guy. I have always had the entrepreneurial spirit, and when I was in my 20’s I created a company called Dockside Pump Out back home on Long Island. The focus of the business was to provide the Long Island boating community with a service that handled waste extraction from their vessels by land. I also created the Adopt-a-Bay program, which accepted corporate sponsorships to help alleviate the costs of operating a Pump Out vessel on the Great South Bay. The company lasted 7 years and would still be going today, but was beat out by the free services local municipalities began offering to boaters. Here is something else which is really kind of ironic. Today as a fellow Charlestonian, I have been labeled as the self proclaimed Weenie Man of Summerville. Back home on Long Island about 10 years ago, I founded the Long Island Hot Dog Festival. I have some crazy ideas that I aim to bring to Summerville.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
When my wife and I visited the Dominican Republic, we were on this Jeep excursion, and we stopped at this amazing beach with crystal blue water, white sand beaches, and wild horses. It was not only gorgeous, but it was stunning because I was with my girl.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
July & August. My wife’s, my children’s, and my birthdays are all 1 week apart . Christmas is my favorite holiday because it reminds me of my grandparents – fresh homemade manicotti and being with my family. Last day of school is my favorite day because I remember what it felt like, so I want my children to feel it also.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The Empire Strikes Back is an 11 in my book. My wife’s rice pudding and her undercooked chocolate chip cookies. Porsche, there is NO SUBSTITUTE.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, no question. Christine has this uncanny ability to adapt and change her attitude, her perception, without compromising her beliefs or convictions. She makes me want to be a better person every day. She has taught me how to have feelings and not have such tough skin. She is my queen!
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
The salty marsh back home around Fire Island or a NYC Pretzel burning on the street corner.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Sanctuary, Laughter, Love
