Bright Businesses: Twistee Treat

Have you seen the 28” tall 20” wide fiberglass ice cream cone on St. Pete Beach? Yes, the Twistee Treat, located on 6900 Gulf Boulevard. 

Established in 1984, the Twistee Treat is a popular attraction for tourists and locals on the beach.

“Everyone loves to take pictures with the ice cream cone,” said Dore Herman, owner of Twistee Treat. “It's like going back in time.”

Serving 66 flavors of old fashioned soft served ice cream, 22 Twistee's Favorite Typhoons, 10 flavors of homemade hard ice cream, and 10 Super Sundaes, ice cream lovers wait in rain or shine to get a taste of Twistee Treat.

“Customers will still come if it's not raining too hard,” Dore said. “They'll just eat ice cream in their car.”

The Herman family purchased Twistee Treat in 2002, adding hard served ice cream and sundae specials. Dore and her daughter, Alison, come up with the catchy names for each ice cream mixture. After 20 years of corporate businesses, Alison returned to work with her family seven years ago.

"I wanted more control over my life,” Alison said. “It's also nice to work so close with my parents."

In 1988 the Herman family moved to Florida, and opened Larry's Ice Cream and Gelato on St. Pete Beach a year later. Located down the street from Twistee Treat, Larry's specializes in 30 flavors of italian gelato ice cream and soft served frozen custard.

“The two businesses compliment each other," Dore said. “Our quality ice cream is the best, and we like to have the best.”

After serving ice cream for 22 years, the Herman family still loves the sweet treat. Alison's usual is the vanilla and chocolate soft serve swirl with chocolate sprinkles on top.

"If I really want to treat myself, I'll get the peanut butter typhoon," Alison said.

From Halloween to St. Patrick's Day, the ice cream parlor creates sundae specials for every holiday. Twistee customer top sundaes are Peanut Butter Supreme, Brownie Bottom Sundae, Twisted Turtle, and the Royal Banana Split.

Sugar-free and fat-free ice cream flavors are also available at Twistee Treat, along with hot dogs, funnel cakes, pizza, sandwiches, and shakes.

In 1983, 23 Twistee Treat ice cream cone fixtures were built in Florida. There are more than 80 across the United States today. The franchise across America is owned by various business owners, but the soft served ice cream treats remain the same.

"Ice cream makes people feel happy,” Alison said. “Even in a bad economy, people will bring their kids out for ice cream. It's a 'feel good' item and the price is reasonable."

Twistee Treat on St. Pete Beach is open daily from Noon to 11p.m. Larry's is open daily from 11a.m. to 11:30 p.m.