We All Scream for Ice Cream
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month by checking out one of the many delicious ice cream shops scattered around Ocean City
Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month?
To be honest, we didn’t either, but then Carolyn Logan, owner of A La Mode in the city’s South End, was sweet enough to give us the heads up. The designation, it turns out, has actually been around for more than 40 years, started in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan to celebrate one of the United States’ favorite summer treats. The third Sunday of the month (July 19 this year) was declared National Ice Cream Day, too.
Here at Ocean City Magazine, we decided this was certainly a call for celebration considering our island boasts upwards of a dozen ice cream parlors. And what better way to do this than with a little Ocean City ice cream tour?
Don’t let your summer melt away without getting a taste of the ice cream you can find in town. Read on for the scoop on what a trio of our favorite sweet spots have to offer.
Homemade in the North End
If you’re up in the North End, you’ve got to stop by TJ’s Ice Cream Plus at 100 East Atlantic Boulevard. Open from May to September, the TJ’s team has been scooping up homemade ice cream for a quarter century – in addition to freshly made water ice and other frozen desserts.
“All of our ice creams, cakes and desserts are all made at our location,” Marla Pino, who owns TJ’s alongside Ronny Bauer, said. “We source the best ingredients to provide a large variety of flavors with less additives, preservatives and artificial colors than factory-produced ice cream.”
On top of that, Marla said her staff is motivated, friendly, and at the ready to help customers – a particularly lucky thing since the shop offers more than 40 flavors daily.
“TJ’s Ice Cream Plus offers lots of unique flavors that are only available at our store on the north end,” Marla said.
For instance, A Day at the Zoo features cotton candy ice cream swirled with animal crackers and marshmallow. Devil’s Food Delight is chocolate ice cream studded with chunks of devil’s food cake. Special cookie-inspired flavors include Banana Nutter Butter Cookie and Chocolate Cookie Dough. Or try something really different with Lemon Saffron, Maple Bacon or Vegan Chocolate Soy.
“There are so many ice cream flavors that are exclusive to TJ’s Ice Cream that I need a whole page just for that list!” Marla said.
This is also a perfect locale without the hustle and bustle that overtakes much of the island each summer.
“We have a relaxed atmosphere away from the crowd of Asbury Avenue or the Boardwalk,” Marla said.
Scooping up smiles
At 14th and Asbury, Johnny B Goode Ice Cream Parlor has been rockin’ and rollin’ and scoopin’ ice cream for 32 years. Plus, they have a secondary location at 34th and West, too.
“What sets us apart?” owner Jane Davis asked. “Our business philosophy is ‘we make people happy.’ Especially kids.”
Johnny B Goode is known for its phenomenal waffles – perfectly sweet and fluffy, yet hardy enough to hold up to a pile of ice cream and toppings. Guests choose from ten waffle creations, including Rock Around the Clock, featuring espresso chip ice cream, chocolate and caramel drizzles and topped with whipped cream, chocolate chips and a cherry, and The Duke – described as “our signature banana split on steroids” on the menu – featuring vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream atop a split banana, topped off with strawberries, pineapple and chocolate syrups, whipped cream and a cherry.
Sundaes sans waffles are also a popular order at Johnny B Goode, and Jane added the shop is also known for its specialty milkshakes, listing Worming My Way Back to You (cookies and cream ice cream with colorful gummy worms, topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, Oreo crumbles and a cookie), Circus Circus (cotton candy ice cream garnished with cotton candy, rock candy, whipped cream and a gum ball) and Hopelessly Devoted to Chocolate (chocolate ice cream finished with whipped cream, a brownie, chocolate-dipped sugar cookie, chocolate drizzle and M&Ms) as three popular milkshake flavors.
We’re so grateful to have been a part of family traditions in Ocean City for generations
Bonus: The 34th Street shop opens early in the morning with fresh squeezed orange juice and a full line of coffee drinks, including lattes and espresso. And if you want something sweet to bring home after your ice cream, there’s an array of freshly made fudge flavors.
“On any given night, you’ll find us out on one of the decks dancing at a sock hop, singing karaoke or watching a magic show,” Jane adds. “Johnny B Goode is local, family owned and operated and supports community programs including sports teams, Miss Ocean City pageants and community business organizations.”
South End Sweet Spot
There have been a couple key changes with A La Mode over the years – but serving up delicious ice cream with a smile has been there since the beginning. The shop was founded at 34th Street half a century ago (today, you can find A La Mode at 301 East 55th Street), and in the 1980s it switched from scooping Goodnoe’s Ice Cream to making its very own creamy recipe in house.
“Fun fact: I took the infamous Penn State Short Course to learn the science of ice cream manufacturing in 1998 in State College, Pennsylvania,” Carolyn said. “It was Ice Cream 101, from cow to cone, orchids to cocoa, freezing to pasteurization. Very technical, but it has come in handy through the years.”
A La Mode has perfected an extensive menu over the last 50 years. The shop features 37 sundae and 12 banana splits, all with homemade toppings and brownies. The most popular flavors are all classics: Butter Brickle, Cherry Vanilla and Java Chip.
“Our menu is widely unchanged since 1976, because our items are popular and have become traditions for our customers,” Carolyn explained. “It isn’t uncommon that a customer comes annually for their favorite Peach Melba Sundae, FBI, or Cookie Heaven or Superbowl. We’re so grateful to have been a part of family traditions in Ocean City for generations.”
Of course, while they may be heavy on tradition and classic flavors, that doesn’t keep the A La Mode team from experimenting. They love finding flavor inspiration at local farms and markets, and creative flavor additions include Lavender Honey and Sea Salt Caramel.
“We are currently dipping a Lavender Matcha Crunch made with house made white chocolate waffle cones, Lime Habanero Sherbet, and Mojito Sorbet – non-alcoholic, of course!” Carolyn added.
Gluten-free, non-dairy and vegan flavors are in the works, and homemade gluten-free waffle cones are already on the menu.
“Also, for the past four years, we’ve been entering ice cream for judging within our trade association, the North American Ice Cream Association, and we’ve won Red Ribbons for several types of vanilla, a White Ribbon (third place) for strawberry and a Blue Ribbon for chocolate last year,” Carolyn said. “We fell .03 short from another Blue Ribbon in vanilla, so we’re currently working on that!”
Satisfy the sweet tooth
TJ’s Ice Cream Plus, Johnny B Goode and A La Mode are just the tip of the Ocean City ice (cream) berg. There are practically endless ice cream options in town, and you really can’t go wrong with a single one.
If you’re up on the boards, you can’t miss grabbing a cone at the famous Kohr Brothers (have you tried their creamsicle-inspired orange/vanilla swirl?), devouring a sundae from JiLLy’s Ice Cream Factory, or trying a scoop of chocolate perfection from Kilwins.
Downtown? Make sure you get a taste of what’s on the menu at Hobby Horse Ice Cream Parlor & Cafe or Island Creamery New Jersey. Closer to 34th Street you’ll find Churn House Ice Cream & Cereal Bar, and Aunt Betty’s Ice Cream Shack is on 21st Street.
We could go on and on, but we’ve got a sundae (or two, or three) to get to. Who’d we miss? Let us know by emailing editor@ocnjmagazine.com.
by Kristen Dowd