Carvel Ice Cream has a rich history dating back to 1934. It all started on Memorial Day when Tom Carvel’s ice cream truck got a flat tire in Hartsdale, New York. He decided to sell his slightly melted ice cream on the spot—and people loved it. That experience inspired him to serve soft ice cream from a fixed location. By 1936, Carvel’s “no-air, super low temperature” ice cream was patented, and in 1937, he opened his first shop in Hartsdale. In 1947, Carvel became the first retail ice cream shop in America to franchise. By 1951, there were 100 shops, and they introduced their iconic Flying Saucer ice cream, inspired by the UFO craze of the era. They’re also famous for the Fudgie the Whale ice cream cake, which celebrated its 40th birthday in 2017. Today, Carvel is owned by Focus Brands, and as of 2022, there are 358 franchises worldwide, 326 of them in the U.S. Their motto? “America’s Freshest Ice Cream.”
While shopping in the area, I spotted this Carvel on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. What immediately caught my eye was the giant Flying Saucer on the roof, recently installed to celebrate 75 years of this iconic treat. I grew up with a Carvel just down the street in New Jersey and have so many childhood memories enjoying their ice cream with my family and indulging in Flying Saucers at school events. Today, you can still get a Flying Saucer for only 75 cents, and on Wednesdays, they offer BOGO sundaes—perfect for a sweet deal! Seeing the Flying Saucer instantly brought back all those childhood feelings, so I couldn’t resist stopping for a treat.
In addition to Flying Saucers, Carvel offers Fudgie the Whale, Cookie Puss, and a variety of other cakes, along with hard and soft serve ice cream, shakes, and sundaes. On this visit, I went for a small brownie sundae dasher, made with layers of soft serve vanilla, brownie, and fudge sauce—a truly decadent indulgence. There are a few tables outside where you can enjoy your treat. This Carvel location is so cute, and the staff was incredibly friendly. For me, a visit to Carvel is pure nostalgia.
Branko’s Glass
A delicious piece of West Palm Beach history. A gem to the community. Been coming to this location for a lifetime. Can’t beat it!
Jessica Rodriguez
* Second occurrence Very disappointing experience. The owner rude and displayed poor customer service, including raising her voice at an employee in front of the customers. She also seemed frustrated when we asked to switch from a cup to a cone, which made the entire interaction uncomfortable. We were a party of seven and never again will we be supporting this franchisee.
Lorenzo Scoppa
Family owned for over 50 years, best tasting and freshest Ice Cream in town!
jalena jalil
Great experience at Carvel! The ice cream was delicious and everything was clean and organized. Amanda was very friendly and helpful, and she made sure my order was perfect. I’ll definitely be coming back!
Lena Fernandez
It's Carvel's what's not to love
Joseph Turner
Great icecream
Kevin O'Dwyer
If you remember the days of the roadside Carvel stores with the iconic cone in the sky, this is worth a visit when on the road. Carvel Ice Cream, founded in 1929 by Tom Carvel in Hartsdale, New York, revolutionized the American ice cream industry with both its products and its retail model. Carvel famously began by selling soft-serve ice cream from a truck, and after a flat tire incident, he discovered that slow melting and careful storage of his ice cream allowed him to develop a loyal customer base. By the 1930s, he opened the first permanent Carvel “road store”, a uniquely designed outlet that combined accessibility for motorists with a focus on fresh, soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, and signature ice cream cakes. Ice Cream is excellent as well!
William Bratcher
It the best from bogo wensday ice cream sundays to the flying saucers.& as always great fast service
Brenda Romano-Ferro
Absolutely Delicious..give them a five star..they are the most kind and courtesy cew that I've ever met..I have been going there for 35 years..love the Owner she's fantastic and so is the Assistant Manager Ed..Sincerely Yours, Brenda Romano-Ferro
Looks lime this place has been here for decades. The exterior, interior and tables in front may all be as built. The product and offerings also seem to be as always (though the “modernized” menu seems unnecessarily stylized). There’s a combination of soft serve and traditional ice cream with a good variety of flavors — all very creamy and over-the-top sweet. A nice place to visit, especially on a calm night.
Monica Howard
Mmm great!
Tiffany E
The different taste of the ice creams are fantastic and totally different then ever heard of. They let you get a sample of the choice before making the selection that you are making for your bowl/cone. They will even let you have two different types for the medium if you can't make up your mind. Just love that about them, since we were sharing and didn't know who was going to loose out. Lol. Happy wife happy night. 🤣🍨🍦
Carvel Ice Cream has a rich history dating back to 1934. It all started on Memorial Day when Tom Carvel’s ice cream truck got a flat tire in Hartsdale, New York. He decided to sell his slightly melted ice cream on the spot—and people loved it. That experience inspired him to serve soft ice cream from a fixed location. By 1936, Carvel’s “no-air, super low temperature” ice cream was patented, and in 1937, he opened his first shop in Hartsdale. In 1947, Carvel became the first retail ice cream shop in America to franchise. By 1951, there were 100 shops, and they introduced their iconic Flying Saucer ice cream, inspired by the UFO craze of the era. They’re also famous for the Fudgie the Whale ice cream cake, which celebrated its 40th birthday in 2017. Today, Carvel is owned by Focus Brands, and as of 2022, there are 358 franchises worldwide, 326 of them in the U.S. Their motto? “America’s Freshest Ice Cream.”
While shopping in the area, I spotted this Carvel on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. What immediately caught my eye was the giant Flying Saucer on the roof, recently installed to celebrate 75 years of this iconic treat. I grew up with a Carvel just down the street in New Jersey and have so many childhood memories enjoying their ice cream with my family and indulging in Flying Saucers at school events. Today, you can still get a Flying Saucer for only 75 cents, and on Wednesdays, they offer BOGO sundaes—perfect for a sweet deal! Seeing the Flying Saucer instantly brought back all those childhood feelings, so I couldn’t resist stopping for a treat.
In addition to Flying Saucers, Carvel offers Fudgie the Whale, Cookie Puss, and a variety of other cakes, along with hard and soft serve ice cream, shakes, and sundaes. On this visit, I went for a small brownie sundae dasher, made with layers of soft serve vanilla, brownie, and fudge sauce—a truly decadent indulgence. There are a few tables outside where you can enjoy your treat. This Carvel location is so cute, and the staff was incredibly friendly. For me, a visit to Carvel is pure nostalgia.
A delicious piece of West Palm Beach history. A gem to the community. Been coming to this location for a lifetime. Can’t beat it!
* Second occurrence
Very disappointing experience. The owner rude and displayed poor customer service, including raising her voice at an employee in front of the customers. She also seemed frustrated when we asked to switch from a cup to a cone, which made the entire interaction uncomfortable. We were a party of seven and never again will we be supporting this franchisee.
Family owned for over 50 years, best tasting and freshest Ice Cream in town!
Great experience at Carvel! The ice cream was delicious and everything was clean and organized. Amanda was very friendly and helpful, and she made sure my order was perfect. I’ll definitely be coming back!
It's Carvel's what's not to love
Great icecream
If you remember the days of the roadside Carvel stores with the iconic cone in the sky, this is worth a visit when on the road.
Carvel Ice Cream, founded in 1929 by Tom Carvel in Hartsdale, New York, revolutionized the American ice cream industry with both its products and its retail model. Carvel famously began by selling soft-serve ice cream from a truck, and after a flat tire incident, he discovered that slow melting and careful storage of his ice cream allowed him to develop a loyal customer base. By the 1930s, he opened the first permanent Carvel “road store”, a uniquely designed outlet that combined accessibility for motorists with a focus on fresh, soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, and signature ice cream cakes.
Ice Cream is excellent as well!
It the best from bogo wensday ice cream sundays to the flying saucers.& as always great fast service
Absolutely Delicious..give them a five star..they are the most kind and courtesy cew that I've ever met..I have been going there for 35 years..love the Owner she's fantastic and so is the Assistant Manager Ed..Sincerely Yours, Brenda Romano-Ferro
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Looks lime this place has been here for decades. The exterior, interior and tables in front may all be as built. The product and offerings also seem to be as always (though the “modernized” menu seems unnecessarily stylized). There’s a combination of soft serve and traditional ice cream with a good variety of flavors — all very creamy and over-the-top sweet. A nice place to visit, especially on a calm night.
Mmm great!
The different taste of the ice creams are fantastic and totally different then ever heard of. They let you get a sample of the choice before making the selection that you are making for your bowl/cone.
They will even let you have two different types for the medium if you can't make up your mind. Just love that about them, since we were sharing and didn't know who was going to loose out. Lol. Happy wife happy night. 🤣🍨🍦
ICE CREAM!! Of the most excellent ki d.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious 😋
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