Neighborhood Notables: The Man Behind the Miami Ice Truck

It's easy to spot the Miami Ice truck around Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Eastchester. With a mural of tropical flowers, flamingos, parrots and even an alligator, the customized pastel blue, 1967 Ford F-250 can regularly be found at special events, games, and private parties. And all summer long, Miami Ice is at campgrounds, county parks, and outdoor events.

These days you can find the vintage truck parked near the Bronxville School track after school lets out. But in a few weeks, the weather will turn cooler and the treat truck will be gone. Until then, there's just enough time to line up for some gourmet ice cream or a frozen fruit bar or some other cool tasty treat.

It turns out Miami Ice owner Michael Ferrarelli, 65, is just as sweet as the treats he serves. Ferrarelli, who has a stocky but fit build and a shock of crew-cut white hair shares his charm and a few stories on a recent afternoon when there's no school.

"I won the truck in a poker game," Ferrarelli explains. "It was a friendly game, but that time it got a little intense. He threw in his truck keys and I bet my motorcycle."

Ferrarelli, it should be noted, has been a car enthusiast since he was 15 years old—into custom cars and motorcycles. He described how he upgraded the truck with disc brakes, power steering and added a dual battery system so the refrigerator wouldn't shut the engine down. He also replaced the original seats with a black leather power bucket seat.

"If I got to sit in this truck, I wanted it to be nice," he says practicality. 

But you want to know about that poker game: "He thought he had something, that's why he put in his truck," Ferrarelli says of his unlucky opponent. "He had a full house. But I had four aces. I couldn't do that again."

Even on school holidays, Ferrarelli spots familiar faces in Bronxville. He says hello to two girls who walk by and waves to a gentleman farther off who looks out over the track.

"Usually after school there's a little mob around here," he says. On a first name basis with many of the children, he explains how life has changed since he's been in business. "The kids become adults, the adults become parents and they bring their kids too," he says.

Before taking on Miami Ice, Ferrarelli was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps—"Make sure you say that," he directs," I'm a stand-up guy, honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps."

On his right forearm, is a tattoo of the Grim Reaper, with USMC beneath. "Oh that," he says. "The kids think it's cool. When you're in the service you see a lot..." He trails off, he doesn't want to talk about that too much. But it's easy to see how his days as a Marine have stayed with him.

Along with the Marines, Ferrarelli has worked other jobs, like construction, but Miami Ice is different. "This isn't like a job-job," he says."It's more like fun and socializing."

Still, he takes the position seriously. "This job requires a lot of dedication," he says matter-of-factly. "I'm up at 6AM getting everything prepared."

He continues, "It's like mobile restaurant. I keep it very clean. I've seen other trucks and man..." he says. Miami Ice, it should be said, is spotless. He cleans the truck and goes to a distributor where he gets his selection of wares: Starbucks ice cream, Dove bars, Ben & Jerry's.

"As it gets cooler, I don't buy as much," he says. "I'm a frugal buyer."

When it comes to the truck, Ferrarelli has had no accidents or violations in 30 years. "I have a spotless reputation and I pride myself on being punctual." He also notes: "I'm licensed and fingerprinted. That's very important in this kind of business."

How did he choose the name Miami Ice? After winning the truck in a poker hand, he let chance make another fateful decision for him.

"I put five cities in a hat and drew Miami," he remembers. "This was back in 1985. The TV show wasn't on the air yet when I formed the corporation, but then it was."

Most of the kids buying ice cream from Ferrarelli have only seen the wildly popular 80s TV show Miami Vice on cable, where it runs in syndication. But for everyone else, the name immediately conjures images of cool, sockless cops in pastel t-shirts driving fast cars through wet Miami streets.

Maybe Ferrarelli did have the idea first, but even if he didn't, the idea of a truck called Miami Ice is pretty clever. He designed the mural and a Bronxville teacher painted it for him. " I wanted an alligator, parrots..."

Now semi-retired, bachelor Ferrarelli lives in Mount Vernon. During the six months Miami Ice is off the streets, he'll do projects around his house. Until then, he takes the truck to Bronxville School in the afternoon and is usually back  by 7 p.m., unless there's a game at a local ballfield or park to attend. He rents the truck out for special events or parties. He'll come too, to serve the frozen goodies.

"October 15th is probably my last day," Ferrarelli says. "When people are wearing sweaters and jackets, they're not thinking about ice cream. But I'll be back around April..."

He calls me after I leave. "Make sure you put in my website," he says, "and my email address." You can reach Michael Ferrarelli and the Miami Ice truck at www.coolmiamiice.com and miamiice2000@juno.com.