By Gary Nager
As a certified (certifiable?) chocoholic and dessert lover who is trying to stay below 500 pounds, I don’t eat ice cream as much as I once did, but I still love a dish or a cone of super-premium ice cream every now and then, so I’ve been an ongoing, occasional customer of the Cold Stone Creamery located in the Highwoods Preserve section of New Tampa (just off Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.) since it opened nearly a decade ago.
Co-proprietors Chip and Cathy Byrne opened New Tampa’s only Cold Stone location in July of 2004 (they also own two other stores, in Lakeland and in Carrollwood), so the Byrnes have seen a lot of young New Tampa kids grow into adulthood over the years — many of whom started their careers in the local ice cream shop.
“It’s gratifying to know that we were the first job for so many kids who have or are going on to be successful in life,” says Chip. “Many of them still stop in to say hi.”
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Cold Stone’s website (ColdStone Creamery.com) bills a visit to any of the company’s more than 1,100 locations nationwide as the “Ten-Minute Vacation®,” as happy, singing crew members mix in your favorite toppings — from different varieties of chocolate chips to real Butterfinger and Kit Kat bars, sprinkles, fresh fruit, hot fudge and so many more that allow you to “Create Your Own Creation” — all on Cold Stone’s signature frozen granite mixing stone. I chose to mix my new favorite Cold Stone flavor, fudge truffle ice cream, with peanut butter ice cream, and mixed-in white chocolate chips and a Reese’s cup — I even added hot fudge topping, in a desperate effort to have my entire day’s worth of calories and fat in one five-minute sitting. But, it was worth it. Honestly.
For those who don’t want to work that hard figuring out what to add to their favorite flavors, Cold Stone always has more than a dozen ice cream flavors on hand and a variety of “Signature Creations” cones with cute names like “Strawberry-Banana Rendezvous,” “Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some” & “Mud Pie Mojo.”
For those who enjoy lighter tastes, I personally suggest going elsewhere (just kidding), but Cold Stone always has at least one frozen yogurt flavor and two or more tasty sorbets, which are among the newer options on the menu. I found the raspberry sorbet to be pretty delicious, but this ice cream lover still prefers the “real deal.”
Cakes, Catering & More!
Chip says that ice cream cakes are among his top sellers, and that his and Cathy’s goal is always to have a full ice cream cake display case, which offers an awesome variety of “Signature Cakes,” including the “Cake Batter Confetti” on the next page, “Midnight Delight,” “Strawberry Passion” and more. These signature cakes are virtually always on hand at the New Tampa store (and can be reserved online), but Chip notes that you also can custom-order a cake with your own favorite flavors with just 24 hours notice before you need the cake.
“Customers find our cakes to be a delicious and convenient way to celebrate almost any occasion,” Chip says. “The Signature Cakes are really popular.”
Chip adds that Cold Stone’s catering also is becoming more and more popular these days, as the store has a luxurious, impressive-looking van that actually doubles as a mobile ice cream shop, complete with its own mixing stone (for an additional fee). Or, you can just save the extra cost of the stone and offer your choice of toppings to your guests.
“You need about 50 people minimum to make bringing the van to your location worthwhile,” says Chip. “But, it’s perfect for weddings, corporate events, fund raisers, school and other private parties. We can even roll a smaller version of our in-store ice cream display right into your location from the van. People really love it!”
Speaking of “Loving It,” Cold Stone hasn’t always been able to have smoothies at the New Tampa location (because of a non-compete agreement in the plaza), but now also serves hand-spun smoothies and shakes in a variety of delicious flavors.
Cold Stone Creamery’s New Tampa store (17519 Preserve Walk Lane, next to Jimmy John’s) is open every day. For more info, call 977-0024 or visit ColdStoneCreamery.com.
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