Tag: cold stone creamery

When we first brought up the idea of doing what we call a “Dining Feature story” about his Cold Stone Creamery location off (but visible from) Bruce B. Downs (Blvd.) in New Tampa, franchise co-owner Meet “Sunny” Chaudhary said he saw no reason for us to do so. 

“Pretty much everyone knows Cold Stone,” he said. “We’re a chain, like any other national chain restaurant.” 

But, while that is true — as Cold Stone has about 1,000 U.S. locations and another 300 around the world — I told Sunny that since his ads with us tout “Under New Ownership & New Energy,” didn’t he want to share that new energy with, oh, 80,000 or so of his “closest friends” in New Tampa’s 33647 zip code? 

So, Sunny — who only officially took over this 18-year-old location in May, with his partner, Sunny (not a misprint) Patel — did ultimately agree to be interviewed for this story. 

“Most of the people who had worked at this location didn’t stay when we took over,” Sunny admits. “But, we took that as a positive because we were able to bring on a whole new crew of young people, mostly high school students, who understand that Cold Stone Creamery isn’t just an ice cream place, it’s an experience.” 

To illustrate his point, he adds, “Every time someone walks in, we make sure every team member yells, ‘Welcome to Cold Stone!’ (Yes, they also sing songs for tips!) And, watching the crew mix in your favorite toppings on our cold stone counter is always fun, too. And, we stand behind our ice cream as the best, too!” 

The married Wesley Chapel resident says that when his uncles opened the new Cold Stone location in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on BBD in Wesley Chapel last year, he worked in the store as a team member, receiving the same training as any other employee, “So when this store became available, my partner and I decided, ‘Why not? Let’s run our own Cold Stone!’ even though we really were hoping to open a brand new location.” 

He notes, however, that he and Sunny still plan to open a new second location of their own, but in the meantime, he is focused on making sure that every time someone hears “Welcome to Cold Stone!,” they leave with a smile on their face. 

About The Ice Cream & Mix-Ins 

According to the company’s website, “After 35 years in business, Cold Stone Creamery continues to thrive by offering the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience®: a super-premium, artisanal ice cream that is made fresh in our stores, with an endless array of mix-in combinations that allows customers to dream up their own Cold Stone Signature Creations™.” 

My current favorite flavors are both new — Caramel Truffle and “Despicamallow” (the latter is marshmallow-flavored ice cream turned “Minion Yellow” to coincide with the release of the “Despicable Me 4” movie)— although I also am partial to Cold Stone’s banana, peanut butter, cake batter, “Classic Cookie Dough™” and cheesecake flavors. I also was a little surprised that even though I’m not usually a sorbet kind of guy, I genuinely enjoyed the peach mango sorbet, as well as the “Silk® Chocolate Almond Milk Frozen Dessert,” which is perfect for those who are lactose-intolerant. 

But, no matter which flavor is your favorite, or whether you order yours in “Kid’s Size,” “Like-It®” (small), “Love-It®” (medium) or “Gotta Have It®” (large) at Cold Stone, you always get to make your ice cream unique with the huge variety of available mix-ins. 

From fresh fruit, like bananas, raspberries and strawberries, to candy like M&Ms®, Kit Kat® and gummy bears, plus nuts like pecans and roasted almonds and “toppings” like real (not served hot, though) fudge, caramel, frosting and whipped topping (and too many more to name them all here), you can try different combinations every time you visit Cold Stone Creamery. Can’t decide? There also are plenty of actual Cold Stone “Signature Creations™,” from the “Mega Minion Marshmallow Meltdown” and “Peanut Butter Cup Perfection®” to “Mud Pie Mojo®” “Founder’s Favorite®” and many more. If you want to know what’s in each of these “Creations,”, visit ColdStoneCreamery.com or (my suggestion) stop into the store. 

And of course, not only is all of the ice cream made in-store, so are the waffle cones and bowls. 

“You can smell that, right?,” Sunny asked during the interview, as photographer Charmaine George and I nodded in approval. “I just love having that aroma hit me when I walk in the store.” 

Cakes, Shakes, Smoothies & Treats 

In addition to those freshly made cones and cups, Cold Stone also offers other specialties, including fresh fruit smoothies (try the strawberry and blueberry) and hand-spun shakes (with your favorite ice cream flavor and mix-in). And, in the freezer at the front of the store, there’s also a variety of pre-packed quarts in four of those “Signature” flavors, as well as an even larger selection of Signature ice cream cakes, including the new “Heist Cream Cake” (featuring that Despicamallow ice cream), Cake Batter Confetti™ (photo on this page), “Midnight Delight®,” Oreo® Cookies & Extreme Cream” and many more in small (serves up to 8 people) and large (up to 14 people) round sizes. And of course, you can order completely customized cakes, with your favorite ice cream flavors, mix-in and frosting, in a number of different sizes. 

“I was never a big fan of ice cream cakes until I had ours,” Sunny says. “And we usually can create your custom cake within 24 hours.” 

Also available in the freezer at the front door are four-packs of ice cream cookie sandwiches and six-packs of ice cream cupcakes and my favorites, the Reese’s® Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cups. 

So, what are you waiting for? As Sunny says, “Ice cream brings out the kid in all of us!” 

The New Tampa location of Cold Stone Creamery (17519 Preserve Walk Ln.) is open every day at 11 a.m. and stays open until 10 p.m. Mon.-Thur. until 11 p.m. on Sun. and until midnight on Fri. & Sat. For more info, call (813) 977-0024, visit ColdStoneCreamery.com or see the ad below, where you’ll find this month’s Daily Store Specials. For special orders, call Sunny directly ay (813) 469-7954.