John worked and worked at Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in Indianapolis, saving up every dollar to buy himself one ambition: a pair of bowling shoes.
Then he set his sights on a bowling ball bag. Today, John, who has an intellectual disability, walks into the nearby bowling alley, his head held high, his earned shoes on his feet, his bag slung over his shoulder.
Thanks to his job at Howdy, John bowls whenever he wants. His independence and pride stem from the dignity of having earned it himself.
This anecdote is part of a broader mission fulfilled daily at Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in downtown Indianapolis: creating meaningful, dignified employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).
When general manager Camille Thomas began working for Howdy before they opened their first Midwest location in September 2022 at 370 N. New Jersey St., the vision was clear: this would be a place built by and for inclusion.
“Our mission is so important because people with disabilities are already not given the opportunities they should, but with Howdy, they can have regular employment,” Thomas said. “It’s a chance to be like everyone else. Not only do they have regular pay and regular employment, but it gives them the opportunity to grow and move on to other jobs.”
From simple adaptations — cash register systems that include tax in the price so change-handling is easier, visual menus and adaptive handles — to structured, repetitive training broken into small tasks and supported by peer mentoring, Howdy Indy is crafted to let every employee thrive.
The impact is visible beyond paychecks.
Employees like John use their earnings to bowl, ride the bus solo or buy birthday gifts. As they serve guests, scoop by scoop, they build confidence, social connection and purpose.
Founders Carmela Toler and Cindy Carter were inspired by the original Howdy Homemade concept, founded in Dallas in 2015. There are now at least seven Howdy franchises across the U.S., each created as inclusive workplaces and collectively creating over 160 jobs for people with IDDs.
From opening day, Howdy Indy has retained nearly all its staff, a remarkable 99% retention rate, even as turnover is an enormous challenge for many food businesses.
The ice cream is more than a sweet draw; it’s part of the message.
With bright pastel interiors that echo the joy of their mission, flavors like Cold Brew & Cookies, Dr. Pepper Chocolate Chip, Cookie Nom’ster and Birthday Cake live up to the tagline: “amazing ice cream served by amazing people.” The Cold Brew & Cookies flavor is the local best seller, while Cookie Nom’ster draws kids in with its vivid sky-blue hue.
As for the future of Howdy’s, catering manager Vida Hillier hinted there might be some expansion in the works for Indy residents who are looking for new and different locations to get their hands on their favorite ice cream.
“We want to saturate the market,” Hillier said. “When you think of ice cream, we want Howdy to be the first name that you think of.”
Beyond serving guests, Howdy Indy is also branching into catering and event work, venues where staff members can serve directly and shine.
“Catering has really put us on the map,” Thomas said. “We’ve grown tremendously from where we started.”
Through every ice cream cone handed over with a smile, Howdy Indy reshapes community expectations: people with disabilities are talented, capable and essential to the local economy. They’re not just scooping ice cream, they’re serving inclusion.
So, when John hits the lanes at his bowling alley, shoes tied tight and ready for game two, his story is both sweet and powerful — and served daily, one scoop at a time, in downtown Indianapolis.
To learn more about Howdy and browse their flavors, visit howdyindy.com.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
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