One ice cream spot in Massachusetts has gone viral on social media for a standout reason.
While most ice cream shops dabble in soft serve ice cream, Krispy Cones in Lanesborough shows up with over 100 flavors of just soft serve.
In a video posted to TikTok, a staff member shared the unique and classic flavors of soft serve from the business, showcasing its deviance from most ice cream shop’s vanilla, chocolate and twist.
The 100+ flavors range from popular strawberry to distinctive creations like Christmas Cheer, Shirley Temple and Hawaiian Paradise.
Owner of Krispy Cones, John Levardi, has seen the business grow to its gigantic selection today, serving up not only ice cream, but dozens of popular food items like burgers, hot dogs, wings and more.
“The original flavors that began was probably like 24 flavors or so,” he told MassLive.
He originally opened the shop as a burger and ice cream joint over two decades ago, offering up a smaller selection than what stands today.
As the business grew, Levardi kept introducing more options of food and ice cream.
How the flavors came to be
Levardi wanted to stand above and beyond flavor burst flavors — an ice cream soft serve that has a flavor strip weaved throughout the outside of vanilla soft serve.
“Once you lick that flavor off, you had nothing on the inside. It was all vanilla,” he said. “Ours is totally different.”
Each soft serve flavor starts with a white cup filled with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. From there, two or three shots of a flavor is squirted into the ice cream. Then, the ice cream is put through a mixer that blends the flavors in. The new mixed flavor is then sent back through a machine, ready to dress your cup or cone.
“The flavor is all the way through the whole ice cream,” Levardi said. “So from every bite from the first to the last, you taste the flavor.”
When one flavor is made, it can then be used to be mixed in with other flavors. Eventually, new creations are mixed together to make even more flavors.
Since opening, Levardi’s own children and staff members have been mixing and matching flavors, producing combinations of unique tastes for customers.
“We sell every one of those,” Levardi shared.
Each flavor on the menu has been sold previously, including more eccentric flavors like Eggnog, Orange Creamsicle and Peanut Butter & Jelly.
“And we continue to grow with it too, because we’re still mixing and matching,” he added.
Each flavor can also be added to shakes and sundaes. Or, customers can try over a dozen hard ice cream flavors on its menu.
Finally, top off any of the treats with endless amounts of toppings or hard shell flavors.
Krispy Cones community
Now the shop has become a destination spot for everybody who visits, welcoming customers from all over the world, from as far as New Zealand to China.
The one thing Levardi wants all his visitors to walk away with — having the best experience they can have.
People that come are happy, he shared, reminiscing he regularly sees customers skipping, holding hands, dancing and playing on its playground.
“I’ve owned pizza shops, I’ve owned sandwich shops and this is by far the most rewarding job that I’ve ever had,” Levardi said.
But the work doesn’t stop at the shop. Krispy Cones can even go mobile.
Krispy Cones sells hundreds of ice cream flavors along with burgers, wings, and more.Taylor Sanzo
Levardi even uses an RV to take the business around the community, serving up ice cream, burgers and hot dogs at events like baseball games, weddings and corporate outings.
A family legacy
When time comes to step down, Levardi’s two daughters will take over the business.
His 17-year-old granddaughter knows “everything there is to know” about the place, and got a kick-start working at Krispy Cones at just 5 years old.
Needless to say, Levardi said he’s thankful and confident the business will go on.
But he won’t have to wait to work alongside family, as tributes to his family members are scattered throughout the building.
Krispy Cones signs are decorated, paying tribute to owner John Levardi’s family.Taylor Sanzo
Menu item signs cover the building, named after his 11 grandchildren and even his dog.
The signs include foods like “Brendan’s Reuben Dog,” “Camron’s Quesadilla” and “Emory’s Rocky Road Sundae,” to name a few.
Krispy Cones is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday through Sunday until 9:30 p.m.
The business is open seasonally, from when April school vacation starts to around the middle of October, dependent on weather, Levardi said.
Krispy Cones is located at 585 S Main St. in Lanesborough.
