TWISTY CONE, INC.
PALM BAY, FLORIDA

Twisty Cone was built by Don and MaryAnn Tharp in 1982. They originally called it Kristy Kone, named after an Arkansas ice cream stand they used to frequent as a young couple. The Tharps had moved here from Michigan in 1978 intending to semi-retire after selling their sand and gravel business up north. But they saw a need and an opportunity in the quiet suburb of Melbourne that didn't have many businesses and fewer restaurants. In the early 1980's, Kristy Kone was surrounded by empty land and very little car traffic traveled Malabar Road from the only 20,000 or so Palm Bay residents. The days were slow, but at night the cars would come and the lines stretched to the street for hours. Palm Bay had been introduced to the Tharp family and loved the treats they were serving. Mr. and Mrs. Tharp worked the business along with their teenage son Steve and it kept growing. new business next door, Tharp's Tire Store (now Tharp's Complete Auto Repair & Transmission). They retained ownership of the building and land throughout. The Ohio couple ran the business until 1996 when they decided to leave. At this time Steve & Michelle Tharp, now married, accepted the older Tharps' suggestion to give the business a go. They gutted the building, changed the name and basically started from scratch. They launched with a bang in August 1996, giving away free ice cream cones for two weeks. They worked 12-16 hour days, seven days a week for months and months. They hired 2-3 employees and then slowly added more until Steve could finally go back to work at Tharp's auto repair business next door. The business continued to grow as Palm Bay residents came back time and again for the Tharp Philosophy of Business....great ice cream, good prices and friendly faces who remember the "regulars". Since 1996, Twisty Cone or "Tcone" has grown into the shop you visit today. Our recipe for success includes updating our menu while keeping all the treats our customers have enjoyed for 32 years. We are open 363 days a year only closing Thanksgiving and Christmas. We truly take pride in our shop and our staff is the best! Every Twisty Cone team member is trained in the "Three C's", Cleanliness, Consistency and of course Customer Service! We know our customers are visiting us for a "treat" and want them to leave happy and satisfied. Join the Twisty Cone Ice Cream... Since 1982 Twisty Cone Ice Cream & Cakes has been serving soft serve ice cream with pride to Palm Bay residents....and Melbourne, Malabar and Sebastian too! Our family-owned shop has a hometown feel from our walk-up window service where a big smile and friendly staff awaits you to our grassy picnic areas. Come and relax, sit on a picnic table and enjoy your favorite ice cream treat. Twisty Cone Ice Cream Cakes are made fresh, with our Ice cream, in our shop, every day. Join the Twisty Cone Ice Cream...