Charlotte: Ice Cream Shops For A Cold Treat

Ice cream is a major summer treat, but also, in the wintertime, folks crave ice cream, maybe even spurred on by the fallen snow. There are so many kinds of ice cream, like the usual and most popular in the U.S., the milk-based ice cream you can scoop onto a cone.

Soft serve is often served at amusement parks and fast-food restaurants in the United States. Ice creams made from cow's milk alternatives, such as goat's or sheep's milk, or milk substitutes like soy, cashew, coconut, almond milk, or tofu are available for those who are lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy protein, or vegan.

Gelato, or Italian ice cream, is also becoming an American favorite. Then there are the fruit-based ice creams like banana. "Nice Cream" is a great vegan alternative. Frozen yogurt is similar to ice cream but uses yogurt and can be lower in fat (but isn't always lower in fat, or calories). Fruity sorbets or sherbets are not ice creams but are often available in ice cream shops.

We did a little searching and found some fun and popular ice cream shops right here in Charlotte:

Two Scoops Creamery Plaza Midwood is located at 913 Central Ave in Charlotte. A family-owned local "staple" for frozen treats made "with love." From classic vanilla and double chocolate to strawberry shortcake and Thin Mint crunch, their 100+ flavors offer the best of everything — whether you prefer to stick to the classics or venture into the unknown. They also offer vegan options.

Located at 1942 E 7th St #102 in Charlotte, they have a wide variety of ice cream and focus on milkshakes of many flavors. The Yard Milkshake Bar was created by husband-and-wife team Logan and Chelsea Green. They both came from families of entrepreneurs and spent their early years working for their parents. In 2011, Chelsea and her mother started their first ice cream shop, Island Ice Cream, which is still owned by Chelsea today. After years of working with ice cream and desserts, they decided to open a second ice cream shop in 2017.

Located at 1308 The Plaza in Charlotte was started by a couple named Garrett and Jess. They met in July of 2020 and quickly connected over a shared love of dessert. Their first date consisted of a lot of ice cream. Flash forward to one random day in January 2022 when Jess came home to a new ice cream machine. What started then as a little hobby project has quickly turned into a business.

The name Seemingly Overzealous is actually a nod to a text sent the morning after their first date.