The 5 Essential Ice Cream Shops in Flint

As the summer warms up, snacks cool down. It’s no surprise that frozen treats like ice cream are a popular summer indulgence when the temperatures rise. Cooling down with a creamy frozen treat is a great way to take a break from the summer heat. There are lots of unique and tasty ice cream shops to try in Flint. So give in to your ice cream craving and try some of these local ice cream shops!

Banana Boat Dairy Delight

“Ice Cream” by Photogmateo is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Banana Boat Dairy Delight is a nostalgic ice cream joint where you walk up to open windows to place your order. There’s no seating, but don’t worry — the heavenly ice cream will distract you from sitting down. The enormous menu has a variety of flavors of soft serve, hand-dipped ice cream, flurries, shakes, malts, floats, coolers, parfaits, banana splits, slushies, glaciers, and sundaes. There are a couple of non-dairy and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions. You can even order a doggie sundae for your furry friend.

Customers say that the portions are quite generous, so you might start with a smaller size. The huge serving sizes and delicious flavors make ice cream at the Banana Boat a great value. The service is always friendly and helpful, especially with navigating all the flavors. This family-owned business has been around for over 20 years and opens according to the weather, on warm days above 70 degrees.

Banana Boat Dairy Delight is located at 3721 Corunna Road in Flint.

Flint Trolley Ice Cream and Cafe

The Flint Trolley is a mobile food truck that serves local Michigan ice cream. Cafe Rhema is the Flint Trolley’s home base, so you’ll usually find it parked on the curb in front of Cafe Rhema or in the lot across the street. If it’s not there, then then you’ll probably find the trolley at Flint Farmers’ Market, Downtown Throwdown, Art Walk, festivals, or other local events. The Flint Trolley loves birthday parties and social gatherings, so contact them about turning your event into something really special. The unique trolley definitely creates an amazing atmosphere and vibe wherever it goes.

Besides delicious ice cream in the form of cones, cups, sundaes, floats, and more, you can also order sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and a variety of other food. Some of the award-winning ice cream flavors you should try are amaretto cherry, Nana’s banana puddin’, raspberry chip cheesecake, and cool mint cookie. The tasty sweet treats, delicious food, fascinating atmosphere, excellent customer service, and friendly staff will keep you coming back for more.

Flint Trolley Ice Cream and Cafe is often located at 432 S Saginaw Street in Flint. However, because the Flint Trolley is a food truck, it moves to different locations for events and parties. Check the trolley’s social media page for its current location.

Feather N’Fin

Feather N’Fin has been a family-owned and operated business since 1972. Originally a fish and chips shop with six flavors of ice cream, in 1996 it became exclusively an ice cream shop, and then in 2016 it started offering a morning menu with items like coffees, doughnuts, bagels, and muffins. Although everything at Feather N’Fin is scrumptious, it’s the gourmet ice cream that you’ll fall in love with. Whether it’s a hand-dipped cone, old-fashioned malt, shake, flurry, or banana split you’re sure to satisfy your ice cream craving. You should definitely try one of their fresh-made waffle cones.

High-quality food and superb customer service have kept Feather N’Fin in business for almost 50 years. You’ll feel like family when you stop by thanks to smiling employees and generous portions. Bring your friends and family, order at the walk-up window, then sit in the covered pavilion area or one of the other nicely shaded spots outside. Or make a stop at the drive-up window the next time you’re passing by.

Feather N’Fin is located at 7543 Miller Road in Swartz Creek.

Ziggy’s Ice Cream

This local summer hot spot exudes old-school charm with its walk-up window for ordering and outdoor seating. This retro mom-and-pop shop has an extensive menu with something for every sweet tooth. The Dole Whip soft serve not only comes in classic pineapple, but also in lemon, orange, lime, mango, raspberry, watermelon, and strawberry. You’ll find over 40 award-winning hand-dipped ice cream flavors with local options like Michigan Pot Hole and Mackinac Island Fudge. There are over 50 flurry, shake, smoothie, and float flavors. Soft serve options include traditional flavors as well as Flavor Burst infusions.

Ziggy’s serves Ashby’s Sterling ice cream, a high-quality brand of ice cream with unique flavors. Customers say that the portions are perfect with size options like baby, kiddie, small, medium, large, pint, and quart. For an extra special treat, try one of the dip coats on your ice cream cone, like birthday cake or orange creamsicle, or one of the specialty sundae flavors, like banana royale or hot cookie.

Ziggy’s Ice Cream is located at 11304 South Saginaw Street in Grand Blanc.

Cops and Robbers Ice Cream and Gifts

Downtown Flushing’s only ice cream parlor and gift shop combo gets its unusual name from its location. In 2015, Cops and Robbers opened in Flushing’s former police station to fulfill the need for a historic downtown ice cream shop. The broad menu includes more than just sweet treats like specialty ice cream flavors, sundaes, malts, and milkshakes. There are dairy-free and no-sugar-added frozen dessert options. The menu also includes teas, coffees, fresh-made made soups and salads, appetizers, and main dishes. There is indoor seating upstairs or you can sit on the 100-foot wrap-around porch.

Cops and Robbers serves New Era ice cream, a premium ice cream from Michigan’s Country Dairy. The wide assortment of topping are all-natural and from Sanders. After enjoying your sweet treat, browse the gift shop for one-of-a-kind items like toys, journals, jewelry, and novelty gifts. For events, parties, festivals, and other large gatherings, the Cops and Robbers Paddy Wagon food truck will bring ice cream to your location.

Cops and Robbers Ice Cream and Gifts is located at 323 East Main Street in Flushing. The Cops and Robbers Paddy Wagon food truck frequently moves around, so check their website for the latest location.

So there you have it. Applegate Chevrolet just informed you of the five best local ice cream joints near Flint. What do you think of our list? Did we miss a favorite ice cream shop of yours — one Flint locals love? If we did, let us know! Drop us a line and we’ll be sure to add it to our list.

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