Ice cream shops are always joyful places. What could make a person happier than the sweet smell of fresh waffle cones and gallons of creamy, frozen goodness to choose from? Cold Stone Creamery figured out a way to top that with a unique in-store experience that makes any conehead's heart go pitter-patter. We've got the low-down on how the chain churns out those creamy concoctions.
1. Cold Stone ice cream was different from the beginning.
Donald and Susan Sutherland traveled around the world in search of the perfect ice cream and founded Cold Stone Creamery back in 1988. The first location was in Tempe, AZ, where they began serving their unique recipe, which falls between a hard-packed ice cream and soft serve.
2. The ice cream is made fresh daily.
How many scoop shops whip up their own flavors right in the store? Cold Stone's ice cream is made on the premises every day, and is categorized as "super premium" by industry standards—meaning it contains 12% to 14% butterfat, which gives it a uniquely creamy texture that sets it apart.
3. Each store has a very special countertop.
Keeping the product cold is extremely important in the ice cream business, but these shops have more than just freezers. A long slab of granite serves as the countertop at Cold Stone (hence the name), and is chilled to around 16 degrees F.
4. Their "toppings" are not just for sprinkling on top.
That granite stone comes in handy when it's time for customers to choose their mix-ins. Crew members put a big dollop of ice cream base right on the cold countertop and make a well with their spatula. A selection of mix-ins get nestled inside, then chopped and folded into the creamy mixture until they're evenly incorporated.
5. There are over 30 mix-ins to choose from.
In addition to the shop's signature creations, customers can opt to make their own concoctions with the impressive selection of toppings. You'll see everything from fresh fruit and candy-bar pieces to sponge cake and gooey brownies behind the counter. At around $.69 per topping, your sundae cost can get pretty steep if you're piling toppings on—one customer tried ordering every single mix-in and got what he asked for, for a total price of $28.90!
6. Staffers have to go through an "audition" process.
The employees aren't just there to mindlessly scoop all day—they're called "sundae artists" and when they interview, they have to impress higher-ups with an enthusiastic performance to prove that they can contribute to the "Entertainment Factor."
7. They might even sing for you.
Staffers are instructed to break into song when they receive a tip, and some crew members even come up with their own ditties for customers. Depending on your threshold for public embarrassment, that means you should either make sure to drop some change in the tip jar, or make sure to avoid eye contact at all costs.
8. The chain is home to the World's Biggest Ice Cream Social.
A scoop of ice cream is enough to bring a smile to any kid's face, but Cold Stone goes further to make dreams come true for youngsters in the U.S. In partnership with Make-a-Wish, the chain has hosted the World's Largest Ice Cream Social for several years, donating $1 to the charity for every "Love It" or "Gotta Have It" size treat sold over the course of a select month during the year.
9. They're famous for a half-baked flavor.
Everyone knows that cake and ice cream are a match made in heaven, but Cold Stone had a serious stroke of genius with one of it's most popular flavors—cake batter. Somehow they managed to get the essence of licking the bowl when baking a cake into our favorite frozen dessert. The flavor is featured in Birthday Cake Remix and other signature creations, and customers love it so much that they've recently added new baked good–inspired flavors for a limited time: Loaded Peanut Butter Batter, Rainbow Cookie Batter and Everything's Batter With Chocolate.
10. Cold Stone won't wreck your diet
Okay, so you probably want to steer clear of those decadent signature creations, but did you know that Cold Stone also has a frozen yogurt bar? Existing Cold Stone locations have added FroYo to the menu, with a similar setup as what you'll find at Pinkberry—but with all the awesome toppings you get with the ice cream.
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