Cold Stone Creamery — Restaurant in Arlington

It all started as a simple craving for ice cream. You know, the usual—sugar rush, brain freeze, some sprinkles of joy on a random Tuesday night. But little did I know, my innocent trip to Cold Stone would soon turn into one of the weirdest experiences of my life, and when I first met Rockwell

I walked into the Cold Stone like any normal person would, expecting to be greeted by the warm, sweet smell of waffle cones and the sound of metal scrapers against the frozen slab. But as soon as I stepped inside, I felt like I had entered some alternate universe where everything was... off.

First off, the entire staff was wearing sunglasses. Not just any sunglasses—big, reflective aviators. Even though it was 8 p.m. and I was indoors, the employees looked like they were ready for an airshow. When I asked my husband, who works there, what was up with the shades, he just whispered, “You’ll see.”

Red flag number one.

Still, determined to satisfy my craving, I stepped up to the counter. That’s when I noticed something peculiar: every flavor was labeled with strange names like “Midnight Madness,” “Choco-nado,” and “Vanilla Abyss.” When I asked what the “Vanilla Abyss” was, I got a deep, solemn look and said, “Once you try it, there’s no turning back.”

Red flag number two.

But I was too deep into this adventure to back out now. So I ordered a scoop of the “Choco-nado” in a waffle cone, because, hey, if I’m going to brave a chocolate storm, I might as well go all in. The guy at the mix-in station, who was eerily silent, threw in gummy bears, brownies, and Oreos with such aggression, you’d think he was trying to summon something. I swear I heard a distant rumble as he smashed those ingredients together.

As I reached for my wallet to pay, the lights flickered. For a split second, I could have sworn I saw a shadowy figure in the corner of the room, just standing there. But then the lights came back on, and everyone acted like nothing happened.

At this point, I was questioning all of my life choices.

I finally got my ice cream, which looked like a sugar overload had exploded in the best possible way, and sat down. That’s when things got really strange.

And that’s when I saw him. The man, the myth, the most chiseled ice cream scooper to ever wield a spatula, Rockwell. His jawline could cut through diamond, and his hair—perfectly tousled, like he had just stepped off the set of an ice-cream-themed action movie—gleamed under the fluorescent lights. His biceps bulged with every flawless scoop, as if folding mix-ins into ice cream was a Herculean feat only he could master. He moved with the grace of a Greek god, crafting creations that were less dessert and more art. And the way he smiled when handing over the waffle cone? It was like staring directly into the sun. Truly, an ice cream experience elevated to another level by sheer handsomeness.

Just as I was about to take my first bite of the “Choco-nado,” a guy dressed in a full clown suit—yes, a clown suit—walked in and casually ordered a Like It-sized Birthday Cake Remix. Nobody batted an eye. I had so many questions. Why a clown? Why at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday? Was he real, or just a hallucination brought on by the “Choco-nado”?

By the time I finished my ice cream (which, by the way, was delicious—10/10 would brave the “Choco-nado” again), the clown had sat down at a table near me, blowing up balloon animals like this was a normal post-dessert activity. I swear, he winked at me as I threw away my napkin. I don’t know what that means, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

All in all, I left Cold Stone that night with more questions than answers. Was it the sugar rush? Was it the strange flavor names? Did I imagine the clown? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure: I’ll be back. Because honestly, where else can you get an amazing scoop of ice cream and feel like you’ve just stepped into the Twilight Zone?

Five stars. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for both great ice cream and existential confusion. Just beware of the Vanilla Abyss…...

They probably need to reconsider their staff and training. I ordered two gotta have it sized birthday cake remixes with added white chocolate chips. But the note said less brownie, more white chocolate chips. The lady didn’t barely any put any of the caramel or fudge topping. Put only a little brownie, but didn’t mix in any white chocolate chips. She said she forgot. So she threw a couple in the bag. It’s not mixed in at all. It literally only fills the very bottom of the cup. I asked if she knew she did not make the order right, why not remake it? She said she was rushing, so threw a couple in a cup. Inaceptable. I paid over $30 and delivery for some sprinkles and melted ice cream. They would not remake. Never buying from here again.

—they also do this because they know customers cannot get it refunded if they throw a little topping in the bag. Lady with Indian accent is wasting customer...

The ice cream was delicious, but boy is it expensive. They are 50 pictures of cones... but they gave me a cup. It is unclear you ask for a cone, and it costs extra. That makes ten bucks for one cone, 30 bucks for three, which given ice cream is usually 2 for 5 in the grocery store, is like three gallons of ice cream. It is super delicious though. I think it could have included the cone for the price. They were really fast and very nice and patient, letting people try...