Gotta Have Cold Stone

As the sizzling summer heat continues to linger, diners find comfort in the cool creations available at Cold Stone Creamery.

Cold Stone’s collection of tantalizing treats, from rich and creamy ice cream and shakes to cakes, cup-cakes and light and refreshing smoothies, are perfect for those looking to beat the heat. With nine franchise locations in Hawaii, including seven on Oahu and two on Maui, Island residents are minutes away from enjoying what Cold Stone founders Donald and Susan Sutherland dubbed the world’s “perfect” ice cream when they opened the creamery’s first store in Tempe, Ariz., in 1988.

As Tod Takahashi, area representative for Cold Stone in Hawaii, explains, the company strives to deliver “the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience” to its customers. Cold Stone Creamery prides itself in providing ice cream made fresh daily, as the smooth and creamy flavors are paired and mixed on the iconic frozen granite stone with more than 35 flavorful choices of “mix-ins,” from fruits to candies and cake pieces.

“The ice cream is smooth and creamy, and we also make our fresh waffle cones and chocolate-dipped cones daily,” Takahashi says. “We make everything on a stone — everything’s mixed as you choose. We chop and fold your choice of ingredients with your ice cream of choice. Everything is made to order.”

For starters, ice cream is served in three memorable sizes: Like It, Love It and Gotta Have It (prices vary by franchise). Diners may choose from some of Cold Stone’s iconic flavors, ranging from Cake Batter to Cheesecake, Sweet Cream and mainstays such as French Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate. The ice cream comes together with Cold Stone’s tremendous assortment of mix-ins and toppings, and makes such Signature Creations as the Cheesecake Fantasy, Cookie Monster, OREO Overload and Mud Pie Mojo possible. Cold Stone also encourages eaters to form their own Custom Creations from scratch as the ice-cold stone becomes a canvas of colors and flavors.

“Hot Stone” favorites are also a hit with new and returning customers, including the Brownie A La Cold Stone (price varies by franchise) — a warm chocolate brownie topped with French Vanilla ice cream and covered with whipped top-ping, caramel, hot fudge and pecans. The No Fair Funnel Cake is another “Hot” seller, and includes warm funnel cake topped with French Vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, savory strawberries, strawberry puree and powdered sugar.

For those celebrating a birthday or other special event, Cold Stone has it covered with a wide range of signature cakes, cup-cakes and ice cream sandwiches. Cakes are available in both round and rectangular forms, and can be custom-designed to feed anywhere from two to 50 or more people. The Midnight Delight and Cake Batter Confetti are just a couple of the crowd-pleasing options available, as is the Caramel Turtle Pie (all prices vary by franchise. Cold Stone even offers a handy online cake ordering system.

Cold Stone Creamery continues its mission of giving back to the community with its 11th annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social that benefits Make-A-Wish. On Sept. 27, $1 from the sale of any Love It or Gotta Have It ice cream, yogurt or sorbet creation will be donated to Make-A-Wish from stores in Hawaii and across the nation. Proceeds will benefit the organization, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to “enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”

Stop in and scoop up the flavorful fun at Cold Stone Creamery, and see what the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience is all about.

Cold Stone Creamery

Seven franchise locations on Oahu, and two on Maui.
Log on to coldstonecreamery.com for franchise locations, individual phone numbers and hours.