Ahhh, there’s nothing like a delectable frozen dessert on a hot day. It’s cold, sweet and fulfilling. But unless you choose to have your ice cream in milk shake form, don’t forget the napkins… and perhaps sprinkles.
But gone are the days of the old fashioned mom and pop ice cream shops, right? Wrong! At least if you’re looking for ice cream in Lewis County. Just in the Twin Cities alone, there are several family-owned shops as well as one family-owned franchise with an off-the-beaten path location. When the weather is hot and you’re looking for an affordable way to get out with the family or with a date (or just by yourself…that’s okay too), look to these ice cream shops.
Baskin-Robbins
The Baskin-Robbins logo bears “31” to depict the number of flavors, but there are actually over 40 flavors to choose from, says local owner Marin Marlantes. “We really are a little ice cream store, even though we are a franchise. Our goal is that everyone leaves here feeling better than when they came in.”
Baskin-Robbins is well known for its many ice cream flavors, but their shake selection is spectacular because they have those 40-plus flavors to make the shake from. In addition to the ice cream cones, sundaes and banana splits, Baskin-Robbins also offers ice cream cakes for special occasions.
1622 S Gold
Centralia, WA 98531
360-736-0310
Dairy Bar
The Dairy Bar originally opened in the 1950s, but it has been in the Wilson family since the 1970s, says owner Neil Wilson. He described it as the traditional mom and pop place. “People come from all over to get our ice cream cones and shakes,” he said.
The Wilsons are continuing to reinvest in the little drive through. Neil said they purchased a new ice cream machine last year, which helps in efficiency—but that isn’t what makes their ice cream the best around. Neil said their ice cream has a higher butter fat content, which makes for a more favorable ice cream. You can get your sweet tooth relief here with shakes, cones, banana splits and sundaes.
651 W Main
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-3793
Dairy Dan Drive In
It’s the soft-serve ice cream that makes Dairy Dan Drive In famous. Their cones are ginormous and in addition to the standard soft-serve favors, they recently added strawberry, which is less common on the soft serve scene than the usual vanilla and chocolate.
Lead cook Jordan Kelley said they mix the ice cream onsite so you know it’s done well. The drive in (with inside seating) boasts of 45 flavors for shakes, ranging from bubble gum to watermelon. But Neil said the really special shakes are those made with fresh fruit—banana, raspberry, pineapple, strawberry, blue berry and cherry.
1582 S Market Boulevard
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-8381
Holley’s Place
When you’re talking about frozen sweet treats, don’t leave frozen yogurt out of the mix, especially Holley’s Place. Nestled in beside the Fox Theater, owner Holley Kaiser reports that her shop is a delight to all ages but especially to children.
“It’s unique because little kids get to be big kids for a time. Being hands-on, they get to make their own decisions and their own treat.” The shop always carries four frozen yogurt flavors. Vanilla and chocolate are constants, but the other two continually change—one being sugarless and the other being sorbet which is non-dairy, gluten-free and cholesterol-free as well as meeting the needs of vegans. Once your dish is filled which the yogurt or sorbet of your choosing, you head to the 60-topping selection to make your treat creation.
119 S Tower Avenue
Centralia, WA 98531
360-269-8251
