25+ Delicious Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt + Custard Shops in Kalamazoo

ice cream shop, Kalamazoo ice cream shop frozen yogurt

Where to Find Ice Cream in SW Michigan

While especially popular in the summer, ice cream is an all-year treat in our house and Kalamazoo is home to many options to find it all year long.

Whether you’re searching for a traditional scoop of vanilla or other treats like sorbet, Italian ice or froyo, Southwest Michigan covers all of the frozen bases with 25+ local shops full of frozen deliciousness.

We asked our readers for their favorites, and over 6600 voted on the best restaurants in Kalamazoo. Read on for the best frozen treats in SWMI plus a map to explore!

Things to do in Gull Lake MI, best ice cream
photo: ice cream flight from The Front Porch of Galesburg
Best of KZOO

Who Has the Best Ice Cream in Kalamazoo?

We’ve asked our readers for their favorite places to go for frozen yogurt, frozen custard and ice cream and they responded with gusto.

Here are the top 5 favorite shops in Kalamazoo:
1 – Plainwell Ice Cream
2 – Schultz’s Treat Street
3 – Rollup Ice Cream & Tea
4 – Bella Creamery
5 – Ritter’s Frozen Custard

In this Article

• Ice Cream Shops
• Map: Ice Cream Trail
• Ice Cream Food Challenges
• FAQs

Directory: SWMI Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Shops

🍦 Voted # 1 Best Ice Cream Shop

621 E Bridge St Plainwell, MI 49080

Open since 1978 by Art and Judy Gaylord, this now third-generation family-owned shop makes their own ice cream in house and offers over 60 varieties of dairy deliciousness.

Can't make it to Plainwell? Their ice cream is also sold in retailers and served in local restaurants, including Bilbo's, Erbelli's and Lake Burger.

Plainwell Ice Cream Co. is open seasonally, from March through October and closed on Mondays.

Where to Find Plainwell Ice Cream Co.
Plainwell Ice Cream is located at the corner of Broad Street and Bridge Street in Plainwell, across the street from Old Mill Brewpub.

🍦 Voted # 2 Best Ice Cream Shop

3023 Oakland Dr Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Under new ownership since 2020, Schultz's Treat Street serves up Mooville ice cream in addition to their extensive desserts and meal options.

Stop here for gourmet hot dogs, sandwiches, caramels, fudge and ice cream flights. They are also the only shop in town with a soda bar, providing infinite float possibilities.

Where to Find Schultz's Treat Street
Schultz's Treat Street is located in Oakwood Plaza on Oakland Drive in Kalamazoo, with many other locally owned shops including Bookbug, Little Chick and Sawall's.

🍦 Voted # 3 Best Ice Cream Shop

8340 Portage Rd Portage, MI 49002
5907 Gull Rd Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Find unique rolled ice cream at this shop accompanied by toppings like cookies, brownies or lemon bars. Rollup offers a number of signature ice cream dishes including monkey business, orange dreamsicle and sweet s'more.

Rollup serves up more than just ice cream: try their wraps, Boba tea and chicken sandwiches. Be sure to pair any meal with rollup sauce and scoop fries.

Where to Find Rollup Ice Cream & Tea
Rollup has two locations: one in Portage and one in Comstock.
• Portage: 8340 Portage Road, north of Zylman. Their shop is next door to Erbelli's.
• Comstock: 5907 Gull Road, east of Sprinkle. Find them in the same shopping center as T-Mobile and Biggby.

🍦 Voted # 4 Best Ice Cream Shop

10098 Shaver Rd Portage, MI 49024

Bella Creamery makes all of its ice cream, offering over a dozen options including seasonal favorites Firecracker and Blue Moon.

This shop also makes ice cream pies and cakes; grab one from their freezer or order ahead for a custom creation.

After you've had your frozen treat, stop by next door at Mancino's (same owners) for a grinder or pizza.

Where to Find Bella Creamery
Bella Creamery is on Shaver, just south of Beethoven Avenue in Portage. Find them next door to their sister shop, Mancino's.

🍦 Voted # 5 Best Ice Cream Shop

217 Romence Rd Portage, MI 49024

This frozen custard shop serves rotating custard flavors and Italian ice treats. Try a glacier- proudly made so thick that they are served upside down. Ritter's waffle cones and bowls are made fresh in the shop.

Enjoy your treat at their tables outside, or head behind the shop to visit their playground.

Where to Find Ritter's Frozen Custard
Ritter's is located on Romence, just west of Westnedge in Portage. Find them in between PEDAL and Hiemstra Optical.

220 W Prairie St Vicksburg, MI 49097

Find shakes, malts, smoothies, sundaes and traditional, scooped cones at Apple Knockers in Vicksburg. Be sure to sit outside near the boat!

101 S Kalamazoo Mall Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Located on the Kalamazoo Mall, Cherri's Chocol'art is known for their decadent chocolates, scratch-made marshmallows and Monster Shakes.

Made with Lafayette Creamery's ice cream, look for for different seasonal offerings of these mega shakes that live up to their monster names.

6880 W Main St Kalamazoo, MI 49009

This 50's-style diner in Kalamazoo serves up Greek favorites like gyros in addition to their massive ice cream sundaes. For those brave enough to try it, they also have an ice cream food challenge.

1443 M-89 Otsego, MI 49078

This local favorite serves up both soft serve and hard serve ice cream in Otsego. They also offer entrees including hot dogs, burgers and patty melts.

307 N Sherwood Ave Plainwell, MI 49080

Open seasonally, Dean's makes their own ice cream and offers over 25 flavors to try. If you're looking for more than ice cream, they also serve food including burgers, grilled cheese, tater tots and fries.

5030 Gull Rd Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Find lots of frozen treats at Frosty Boy on Gull Road, including over 30 flavors of hand dipped shakes.

321 N Grand St Schoolcraft, MI 49087

Known for their food truck, Monarca's opened their shop in 2022, serving up home made ice cream and popsicles, in addition to Mexican food.

While they have traditional flavors like chocolate and strawberry, we recommend trying some of the more unique varieties like guava and lime.

57810 Murray St Mattawan, MI 49071

Moo Moo's serves up over 32 flavors of Hershey's ice cream in Lawton.

110 E Michigan Ave Paw Paw, MI 49079

This old fashioned deli in Paw Paw serves up sandwiches and delicious ice cream. Find them across the street from The Strand Theater in Paw Paw.

8399 36th St Scotts, MI 49088

Step back in time with this 50s-style diner featuring malts, ice cream sundaes, hot dogs and dinner entrees.

7000 Stadium Dr Kalamazoo, MI 49009

While Skinny Kenny's serves up plenty of BBQ at both of their locations, only their Stadium location serves up ice cream.

Find Ice Cream Club branded ice cream at their Oshtemo location in cones or cups- or GO BIG with a food challenge.

If you're a *really* big ice cream aficionado, try the whole hog challenge, where diners have 15 minutes to complete an ice cream food challenge (pictured).

154 S Kalamazoo Mall Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Find cool local gear PLUS delicious Plainwell ice cream at The Spirit of Kalamazoo downtown.

4488 D Dr S Battle Creek, MI 49015

Visit this refurbished 1940s gas station to find unique ice cream flavors, fresh donuts and locally sourced produce.

Photo op: be sure to snap a pic in front of the 14-foot ice cream statue!

104 E Eliza St Schoolcraft, MI 49087

Ice cream shop in Schoolcraft with soft serve, hand dipped ice cream, shakes, malts, flurries, slushies and sundaes.

55 E Battle Creek St Galesburg, MI 49053

The Front Porch of Galesburg welcomes diners to an All-American traditional drive-in hot dog stand experience, complete with draft-pulled root bear and hand-dipped ice cream.

The Front Porch reopened with new owners in 2023, serving Mooville ice cream.

928 Columbia West Battle Creek, MI 49015

True North makes its own ice cream and has two locations (Battle Creek and Marshall). Find them in the Continental Bakery in Battle Creek on W Columbia.

330 S Riverview Dr Parchment, MI 49004

Dole Whip fans, this is your sweet shop: Twister's rotates their Dole Whip offerings weekly, serving fun flavors like pineapple, orange, pomegranate and raspberry.

527 Harrison St Kalamazoo, MI 49007

While known for their coffee, this Water Street location downtown on Harrison makes their own ice cream and sorbet in house.

Try their scoopable ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, shakes and waffle rounds.

All Water Street favorites (both drinks and food) are also available. This location offers take-out and a drive-thru.

165 W Centre Ave Portage, MI 49024

Build your own frozen yogurt creations at Y'OPA in Portage.

Visitors will find rotating flavors in their self serve machines, plus oodles of toppings including fruit, candy and boba.

Enjoy your treat inside our on their patio.

Ice Cream Trail + Map

Find some delicious destinations with our Ice Cream Trail and interactive map:

Ice Cream Trail ice cream shop

Map

Whole Hog Challenge at Skinny Kenny’s BBQ and Ice Cream

Skinny Kenny’s BBQ & Ice Cream
7000 Stadium Dr Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Are you a HUGE ice cream fan who is up for a food challenge?

Skinny Kenny’s on Stadium Drive invites you to try the whole hog. If you finish this dessert in under 15 minutes, you’ll receive a free tee shirt and your photo on the restaurant’s wall of fame.

Note: this challenge is available at the Stadium Drive location only.

Dare to be Great Ice Cream Sundae Challenge at D’Nicio’s Parlour

D’Nicio’s Parlour
6880 W Main Kalamazoo, MI 49009

If you need as many scoops as possible, D’Nicio’s offers another local ice cream feat. Finish 21 scoops of ice cream and toppings in an hour, and it’s free.

Dnicio's Parlour
image: D’nicio’s Parlour

FAQs

Which Ice Cream Flavors are Unique to Michigan?

Although we love a classic chocolate or cookies and cream, there are some flavors you will rarely find outside of the Mitten: Blue Moon, Superman and Mackinac Island Fudge are considered Michigan exclusives.

Do Kalamazoo Ice Cream Shops Make Their Own Ice Cream?

Our local shops are a mix of creameries and shops that serve other branded ice cream.

Plainwell Ice Cream, Dean’s Ice Cream, True North Ice Cream, Monarca’s, Water Street (Harrison) and Bella Creamery are six spots that make their own in house.

Where is your favorite local spot for ice cream?

Do you have a favorite ice cream shop or froyo place in Kalamazoo? Leave us a comment with your top frozen picks!

More to Explore



About The Author