Jona's Pit Spot, 1023 E. Brady St., opened at the end of January, right before the pandemic hit.

Owner Julisa Marin  – who operates the business with her husband, Jose Murillo – says they made the best of the situation by offering delivery service during the spring and later opened the grab-and-go shop to the public, but without a set schedule. 

"We are usually open from late afternoon until 9 or 10 p.m. and you can see our hours every day on our Facebook page," says Marin.

Jona's is a small, cheerful space adorned with Mexican party flags, pinatas and Day of the Dead skulls.

The menu items are both sweet and savory, with sweet options including ice cream, paletas (popsicles), milkshakes, smoothies, mangonadas (mango ice cream with chili powder), fruit cups, fresas con crema (sweetened, condensed milk mixed with evaporated milk and sour cream over fresh strawberries), banana splits, banana pops (bananas in chocolate) and more.

Savory menu options include nachos, hot Cheetos, hot Takis, Tostielote (prepared corn over chips), chicharron preparado (pork skins topped with lettuce, tomato, sour cream and hot sauce) and more.

Jona's Pit Stop also serves Starbuck's coffee.

Prices are very reasonable, with a single scoop of ice cream costing $2 and nothing priced over $6.

Marin says she named her shop after her sons, Jonathan and Jonael. Marin was born in New Jersey, grew up in Mexico and moved to Milwaukee in 2009.

"This is my first business and I'm really happy to be here on Brady Street," she says.

For more information, go here.