If you’ve been craving arcade games and ice cream, don’t fret. Revolution Ice Cream Co. has finally opened its South Tampa location at 4032 W. Kennedy Blvd.
The coronavirus pandemic pushed back the shop’s original March opening date, but if you’re in the mood for goat cheese, habañero and raspberry ice cream, Rev’s got you covered. (Ask for “The One That Started It All.”)
Employees are required to wear face coverings and maintain proper social distancing, but customers are free to enjoy the arcade machine with 60 classic games for 25 cents a play (“Pac-Man” and chill, anyone?), or sit and enjoy their frozen treat.
The shop—whose first location was in Brandon, followed by a second in Seminole Heights—is known for crafting small-batch artisan ice cream and creating not only odd flavors, but for putting local twists on classics. “That’s My Jam,” is area manager Dawn McKean’s favorite, and it’s made from Plant City strawberries. Once those strawberries are gone, you can’t get it until the next strawberry season (December through April), McKean told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Vegans are even invited to the party with the shop’s coconut milk ice cream, though flavors vary. The shop usually has two flavors, according to McKean; right now guests can choose between toasted coconut or Oreo and coffee.
The shop is also dropping two new flavors at the end of this week, though McKean didn’t reveal the specifics.
If you’re not in an ice cream mood, the Rev also offers pickup for orders from Matt’s Fat Cookies about twice a month, with rotating flavors that change monthly. Past flavors have included a classic chocolate chip, birthday cake and “Chocolate PB Trail Mix.” Just go to the website, order, pick a location and you’re set.
The homemade cookies are packed and provided by Dawn and her husband, Revolution’s production manager, Matt McKean. Soon enough, these mountainous cookies will be available full time in all of the Rev’s storefronts.
UPDATED: 06/16/20 6 p.m. Updated to show locations of Rev's first and second locations.
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This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2020.