Thrifty Ice Cream Employee Finds New Home in Dana Point

For nearly 20 years, Vicki Hoekstra has been a familiar face scooping Thrifty Ice Cream in Dana Point, California. Known for her friendly service, Vicki cherishes the connections she’s made with her customers.

A Job at Risk

Vicki began working at the Rite Aid on Del Prado in 2008. However, in 2023, she learned the store was slated for closure as part of a regional shutdown. This meant Vicki faced losing her job unless she relocated to another city.

Killer Dana Steps In

Meanwhile, Mike and Carrie Foster, along with their partners Steve and Leigh Dunn, owners of Killer Dana surf shop, had plans for the former Rite Aid building. “We had two different stores, much smaller, and we go, ‘wow, this would be kind of right in the heart of Dana Point, not too far from our original location.’ And lots of parking and much bigger so we could close down our two little stores and combine it here. So we took a leap of faith and we did it,” Mike Foster explained.

A History of Surf Culture

Killer Dana was originally founded in 1991 by Gary Wright and sold to La Jolla Group in 2008. The Fosters and Dunns purchased the shop in 2017, recognizing its importance to the community. The shop celebrates Dana Point’s rich surf history, taking its name from a legendary right-hand point break lost to marina development.

“There was so much history here that just isn’t told that much, you know? Huntington Beach has the moniker of Surf City and they have their surf history, but if you really do the research, the core of the surf industry was Dana Point,” Mike Foster stated. The expanded store has received donations from the community, including surfboards and historical photographs.

Saving Thrifty's and Finding Vicki

“I said if this happened, we have to keep the Thrifty’s,” Mike Foster said. After receiving five initial rejections, the Fosters finally secured an agreement with the ice cream company to continue offering Thrifty Ice Cream. “I just kept calling and I wrote emails and then I finally got to the right person that heard the story,” Mike Foster explained.

Knowing the shop wouldn’t be complete without Vicki, they used local social media groups to locate her. “It was so funny because she started the conversation off with, ‘I just want to be up front with you. I used to get in trouble a lot at Rite Aid for talking to customers too much.’ And we just looked at each other and said, ‘Perfect,’” Mike Foster recalled.

A Sweet Reunion

Now, Vicki is back behind the same ice cream counter from her Rite Aid days, serving her signature cylindrical scoops. “I just love working here. It’s so much fun,” Vicki said. “As long as I’m not senile and I can walk, I’m staying.”