Lines wrapped around the building and stretched for hours as hundreds of residents turned out Monday to welcome Bahama Buck’s to Farmington.
Located at 1618 E. 20th St., the tropical shaved ice franchise officially opened its doors with a celebratory VIP party. The evening kicked off with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m., just before the VIP event began.
Once the doors opened at 5 p.m., the turnout drew more than 600 guests, many of whom waited up to two hours for a first taste. For co‑owners Derrick and Sallee Hansen, the overwhelming response was both a surprise and a confirmation of what they believed the community wanted.
“We had a line that stretched around the entire building,” Derrick Hansen said. “We had to cut the line at 6:45 and it took two hours for the person last in line to get in and order.”
Hansen said 614 guests received complimentary items.
The opening marked the result of a family‑driven effort that began when the Hansens returned to Farmington in 2021.
“We moved back to Farmington in 2021, and we were just looking to start a business last year as a family, kind of looking for something that we could do together,” Derrick Hansen said.
Before opening the storefront, the family gained experience running a smaller operation while living in Idaho.
“When we lived in Idaho previously, we had an ice cream truck, and so it was a pretty traditional ice cream truck, and our kids always came and helped us hand out ice creams around neighborhoods or at parties,” he said.
As their children grew into their teenage years, the Hansens began searching for a more permanent business that could involve the entire family.
“Well, now they’re in their teens, so we were looking for something we could kind of have as a family business, to let my wife be the manager, to give our kids a place where they could work during high school,” Derrick Hansen said.
The decision to open a Bahama Buck’s location was influenced by both familiarity and personal history.
“Bahama Buck’s is actually one of my wife’s first jobs when she was in high school,” he said.
The family also built traditions around visiting Bahama Buck’s locations in other cities.
“Anytime we’ve gone to Albuquerque or gone down to Phoenix Valley, we’ll stop as a family anyway, and we would always make that part of our tradition to stop at a Bahama Buck’s,” Derrick Hansen said.
“When we found the building, Bahama Buck’s was an easy choice for us, because we loved it,” he said.
Derrick Hansen said their goal is to offer something different from more traditional options in Farmington by focusing on both product and atmosphere.
“I think the main thing that we wanted, and a big reason we chose Bahama Buck’s, was because their motto is to create a mini vacation for everyone that goes there,” he said. “A lot of the places you go in Farmington are pretty cookie‑cutter, there’s not a lot of flavor to the stores.”
He said the brand stands out for its variety of offerings and its use of flavors produced in house.
While Bahama Buck’s is best known for its signature “Sno,” finely shaved ice, the menu has expanded to offer a broader tropical experience. Guests can choose from smoothies, açaí bowls, Red Bull infusions and Bahama sodas.
The new location has already created jobs in the community, employing nearly 40 people, many of them teenagers.
“We want to help them to become good adults and learn valuable job skills,” Derrick Hansen said.
Beyond employment, the Hansens plan to partner with local schools through programs that reward students and bring activities to campuses.
“We have what’s called the Buck’s Encouraging Education Program,” Derrick Hansen said. “Basically we would come to schools and give them rewards.”
According to a 2023 Bahama Buck’s news release, the Buck’s Encouraging Education Program, known as BEEP!, allows teachers to reward students for academic achievement, attendance and other accomplishments with free Sno coupons while also supporting schools through product donations and fundraising events.
“We really want to be integrated with all the schools in the area,” Derrick Hansen said.
That community connection was evident during opening night, when crowds began forming even before the VIP event officially started. The ribbon cutting was held at 4:30 p.m., with lines beginning around 4:45 p.m., according to Derrick Hansen.
“Everyone was so excited,” he said. “There was a good amount of people who had been to Bahama Buck’s before, and they were just excited to try it as soon as possible.”
Others discovered the business through the buzz surrounding its opening.
“People are just embracing it,” Derrick Hansen said. “They’re happy to have some fresh flavors in town, something different, something new.”
Popular menu items during the opening included Bomb Pop and Piccadilly shaved ice, along with high demand for smoothies.
Despite the high turnout, Derrick Hansen said the team was prepared, with all 39 employees on hand.
While the event ran smoothly overall, managing the crowd presented some challenges. Derrick Hansen said turning people away was difficult, but those who were cut off received passes to return and get free items another day.
Looking ahead, Derrick Hansen expects business to remain strong in the coming weeks before stabilizing and increasing again during the summer.
“I love the support that we’ve got from the community,” he said. “We really want it to be the go‑to spot, especially for celebrations. We really just want to be that little break from reality.”
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