Lumpy’s Ice Cream Melts Hearts In North Carolina With Appreciation Day
It’s the time of year we tend to put a focus on giving back and gratitude. And, no one in North Carolina knows the importance of that sentiment more than Lumpy’s Ice Cream in Wake Forest. This story came full circle recently. And, the shop’s owner, Buck Buchanan, experienced acts of kindness he’s truly grateful for.
In case you missed the story, Lumpy’s Ice Cream suffered equipment failures recently. And, in the ice cream business when freezers stop working that leads to disaster. The store lost more than 700 gallons and around 250 pints of product. Buchanan told MyFox8 the loss added up to “somewhere around $110,000.”
Then, just when they began working to recoup the loss, another malfunction plagued the business. The machine used to make the ice cream stopped working. However, in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds, folks stepped up to help the popular ice cream store.
Ice cream shops as well as community members showed their support through a GoFundMe and purchases in the shop. So, with the help of donations and insurance Lumpy’s Ice Cream is back on track. And, that’s when Buchanan decided to host a customer appreciation day. The weekend after Thanksgiving was free barbecue and free scoops Saturday.
And, it’s a nice story for a local ice cream shop with humble beginnings. Lumpy’s Ice Cream all began back in 2001. Buchanan’s background is in fine dining. But, after moving to Raleigh from Vermont, he began making ice cream from locally sourced hormone free milk and fresh fruits. It grew from a shed behind his house with one employee to national attention in 2011 in a Hartford Insurance commercial. Then, production moved to Wake Forest in 2012.
It’s a happy ending during a rough patch for the beloved shop. Read more in the full story. And, learn more about Lumpy’s Ice Cream on their website.
These 5 Locations Were Named Yelp's Best North Carolina Ice Cream Shops 2023
It’s not summer without dipping into some ice cream. My go-to flavor is any form of cake batter/birthday cake with sprinkles in a waffle cone. Yes, you could describe that order as one of a 5-year-old, but it’s still delicious! I don’t go for ice cream too often, but I do love to grab a cone when I’m on vacation especially. And there is no shortage of ice cream shops in Charlotte or the rest of North Carolina. It seems especially at the beach there is one on every corner. And with well-known chains and locally owned options it can be hard to know what to choose. That’s why Yelp has created a list of the top 100 ice cream shops nationwide. And 5 North Carolina Ice Cream shops made the list.
All are locally owned spots, with one or just a few locations in an area. Additionally, 2 South Carolina shops made the list as well. Below you’ll find all 6 of the Carolina ice cream shops that received this recognition. Proceed with caution though, you’ll be craving a scoop of delicious ice cream soon. No matter what flavor ranks the best for you, one of these places is sure to have what you crave.
Methodology according to Yelp, “This is a list of the Top Ice Cream Shops in the US and Canada in 2023, according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the ice cream category, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. This list looked at businesses in the US and Canada. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of May 1, 2023. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of May 1, 2023.”
View the full article here. Keep reading to see Yelp’s Be North Carolina and South Carolina ice cream shops.
Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.
