The Ice Cream Shoppe

What The Ice Cream Shoppe does

The Ice Cream Shoppe is a family-owned and operated ice cream parlor located at 700 Philadelphia Pike in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 2011 by first-generation Italian American Anthony Meloro with support from his wife Susan and siblings Alessandro, Giuseppe, and Rosa Marie, the business combines two of the founder's passions: premium ice cream and antique American muscle cars, the latter displayed on-site to create a distinctive in-store atmosphere.

The company's core offering is Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold ice cream in over 100 flavors, sold via in-store walk-in service as cones, cups, shakes, sundaes, splits, and smoothies. Complementary offerings include Nathan's Famous hot dogs, Philadelphia soft pretzels, premium smoked sausages, homemade soups and chili, NY-style Italian water ice, handmade waffle cones, funnel cakes, and homemade cannoli. A secondary revenue stream comes from pre-ordered customizable hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream cakes (8-inch at $50, 10-inch at $55) and 9-inch seasonal ice cream pies at $30, all pickup-only. The retail storefront operates approximately 9.5 months per year (closed in late winter), with summer hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer retail model with no delivery, no mobile app, and no proprietary technology. Distribution is limited to a single physical location serving the local Wilmington community, supplemented by community engagement through car shows and sponsorships of local athletic teams, schools, police, fire departments, and cancer patients. Marketing is conducted through the company website, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), and customer word-of-mouth rather than paid acquisition channels. There is no evidence of external investors, franchising, or multi-unit expansion.

Name

The Ice Cream Shoppe

Legal name

The Ice Cream Shoppe

Website

https://theicecreamshopp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned ice cream parlor in Wilmington, Delaware, founded in 2011, retailing Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold ice cream across 100+ flavors alongside hot food, custom cakes, and pies for local walk-in customers and pickup-only pre-orders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Cream Parlor / Dessert Retail

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream & Gelato Shops (THAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Shaved Ice, Snow Cones & Italian Ice Shops (THAFAGAJ)

Keywords

• Premium ice cream retail
• Ice cream parlor
• Custom ice cream cakes
• Dessert and hot food
• NY-style Italian water ice

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ice Cream and Food Retail: In-store retail sales of Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold ice cream, including cones, cups, shakes, sundaes, and splits. Also serves Nathan's Famous hot dogs, Philadelphia soft pretzels, homemade soups, and Italian water ice.
2. Custom Cakes and Pies: Pre-made and custom ice cream cakes and pies ordered in advance for pickup. Includes hand-dipped ice cream cakes, soft serve cakes, and seasonal pies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Ice Cream Shoppe is a single-location family-owned ice cream parlor that retails Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold ice cream in over 100 flavors (scoops, shakes, sundaes, splits, smoothies, cones, cups), along with a hot food menu (Nathan's Famous hot dogs, Philadelphia soft pretzels, smoked sausages, homemade soups). It also produces customizable hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream cakes and 9-inch ice cream pies ordered online for in-store pickup.

Product overview

The Ice Cream Shoppe is a family-owned ice cream parlor established in 2011 that operates as a single-location business rather than a platform. The core product offering centers on Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold Ice Cream with over 100 combined flavors, complemented by a variety of hot food items. The company also offers customizable handcrafted cakes and pies for special occasions, including Hand-dipped Ice Cream Cakes, Soft Serve Ice Cream Cakes, and 9-inch Ice Cream Pies. Additional offerings include NY Style Italian Water Ice, Nathan's Hot Dogs, homemade soups, handmade shakes and smoothies, waffle cones, soft pretzels, and cannoli. All products are available for pickup only at their Wilmington, DE location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premium Gold Ice Cream Hershey's Premium Gold Ice Cream — the highest tier offering featuring higher butterfat content for enhanced creamy flavor. Includes over 100 Premium Ice Cream flavors, with more than half being gluten free. Available as shakes, splits, smoothies, cups and dishes.
• Premium Ice Cream Hershey's Premium Ice Cream featuring over 65 flavors made with the best and freshest ingredients. A large number of Premium flavors are gluten free.
• 9 inch Ice Cream Pie 9-inch ice cream pie with graham cracker crust, available in seasonal flavors including Pumpkin and Deep Dish Apple (October-November), and Banana Pudding.
• Hand-dipped Ice Cream Cake Customizable hand-dipped ice cream cake available in 8 or 10 inch sizes. Constructed with a base (Oreo Cookie, Vanilla Cookie, or Waffle Cone Bits), up to 2 ice cream flavors, 1 topping, and customizable border and text options. Requires 24 hours advance ordering.
• Soft Serve Ice Cream Cake Soft serve ice cream cake with options for Vanilla, Chocolate, or Twist flavors, customizable toppings and border colors.
• NY Style Italian Water Ice Authentic New York Style Italian Water Ice — a fat-free, dairy-free refreshing treat offered alongside the ice cream selection.
• Nathan's Hot Dogs Premium Nathan's Famous hot dogs served as a hot food accompaniment to ice cream.
• Hot Soups & Chili Hearty homemade soups including Chicken Noodle, Vegetable Beef Barley, and Chili with Beans, served daily.
• Handmade Shakes & Smoothies Handmade milkshakes and smoothies available in many flavors, made with ultra-rich ultra-premium Hershey's ice cream.
• Philadelphia Soft Pretzels Warm Philadelphia-style soft pretzels served as a hot food item.
• Homemade Cannoli Homemade cannoli pastries offered as a dessert item.
• Premium Smoked Sausages Premium smoked sausages offered as part of the hot food menu.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hershey's Ice CreamcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPrimary ice cream supplier providing Hershey's Premium and Premium Gold ice cream. Premium Gold features higher butterfat content for ultra-rich flavor. More than half of Premium Gold flavors are gluten-free. The relationship is fundamental to the shop's product offering and brand positioning.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cold Stone Creamery: Ice cream specialty chain known for custom mix-ins, ice cream cakes, and signature creations on a frozen stone. Comparable retail model selling premium scooped ice cream, custom celebration cakes, and personalized desserts in a sit-down parlor setting.
• Graeter's: Premium ice cream maker and parlor operator using a French-pot process for small-batch, higher-butterfat ice cream sold at scoop shops. Comparable positioning around ultra-premium ice cream, scoop shop retail, and signature ice cream cakes.
• Friendly's: Family restaurant chain featuring ice cream as a core menu item alongside hot food (burgers, soups, sandwiches). Closely comparable business model combining premium ice cream desserts with casual hot food offerings in a family-friendly environment.
• Baskin-Robbins: Largest ice cream specialty chain in the US offering scooped ice cream, custom ice cream cakes, and frozen desserts at retail locations. Directly comparable as an ice cream parlor operator with cake ordering and a wide flavor selection, though operating at far greater scale through franchising.
• Rita's Italian Ice: Specialty chain selling Italian ice and frozen custard with a similar seasonal, family-friendly retail model. Comparable in offering non-alcoholic frozen treats (Italian water ice) alongside ice cream, and in operating seasonal storefronts in regional markets.
• Bruster's Real Ice Cream: Premium ice cream franchise specializing in homemade ice cream with a wide flavor rotation and ice cream cakes. Directly comparable as a retail ice cream parlor emphasizing premium product, flavor variety, and custom celebration cakes.
• Kilwins: Specialty retail chain combining premium ice cream with handmade chocolates, fudge, and baked goods in a traditional parlor setting. Comparable as a destination dessert retail experience with ice cream cakes and a community-focused, family-owned feel.

Regional players

• Turkey Hill Experience: Pennsylvania-based regional dairy brand operating retail scoop shops tied to a regional ice cream manufacturer. Comparable in combining a regional brand identity with parlor-format ice cream retail, though anchored to its own manufacturing rather than third-party supply.

Broad incumbents

• Häagen-Dazs Shops: Global ultra-premium ice cream brand operating branded scoop shops and cafes serving higher-butterfat ice cream, sundaes, and beverages. Comparable premium positioning and parlor format, though operating at much larger scale under a global brand.
• Dairy Queen: Large franchise system offering soft-serve ice cream, Blizzard treats, and ice cream cakes alongside a hot food menu. Comparable as a retail ice cream and hot food operator serving families, but operating as a much broader incumbent brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icecreamshop700
• Facebookfacebook.com/theicecreamshoppe700

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ice Cream Shoppe