Joy Ice Cream Social — Restaurant in Wauwatosa

Liz Joy has absolutely ruined the peace & quiet of us residents that have enjoyed this corner of Tosa for many years. Our privacy has been lost as well, since any given warm day/night customers line up 30+deep on the RESIDENTIAL sidewalk of 84th, right in front of our homes.

Parking issues are atrocious, illegally parked cars every day. Ticketing Citations have been given out constantly, even to her own negligent employees. Cars at stand-offs honking to get through, having to pull aside, myself three times once just to get safely into my driveway.

Toddlers running around screaming after induldging on sugar, on her lawn partition up til 8:30pm, as if its a public playground. Complete disruptance and rude. This is a residential street!

If an EMT or Fire Responders would have to get down 84th Street it'd be a complete mess, as cars are jammed up and down 84th on each side of the street by her shop. Patrons are over parking the fire hydrant on 84th & North. Police officers have told me they'd be pissed off as well if they had to live across from this business.

Liz Joy says this is all a "learing experience". Well, she should've learned much more before opening the business, not on the fly.

Many residents are tired of all of this and are approaching the Tosa Mayor as well as the Ward Alderman.

Patrons that love this shop obviously do not have to live directly across from this mess. If you had to live across from this shop, you'd find yourself upset as well.

• Update, 6/16/2025* So glad I don't live across from this annoying, self involved shop anymore. Drove past today and the homeowner directly East of Joy's (what a misnomer for the direct neighborhood) has put up a "NO PARKING" pylon next to their driveway bc of the violations of Liz's patrons. AND, the home-owners have just put up a FOR SALE sign on their property, no doubt due to this shop that thinks it can do anything it wants and be noisy as if it's a public park up til 9pm. Liz Joy is all in it for herself....

I was invited here by Yelp but I missed the event so I ventured out on my own on a sunny day to see what was up. I was greeted by a super friendly worker who served up the best vanilla bean Ice cream in a homemade waffle cone (that was to die for and I don't even like waffles)! We talked briefly but I was definitely enchanted by the service and the food.

The shop itself is small and so cute that it just invites you to sit for a while and forget about your day. I wanted to stay there and dawdle. I wanted to dream about lazy days on the beach, skateboarders, and sunny romps in the sand. Was it the ice cream or was I under a spell?

Hmmmm?

I'll never know but I definitely felt the "joy" of the spirit of the place. The server was joyful. The ice cream made me joyful. The location exudes joy! The waffle cube made me giggle with joy! It's a happy, ice cream social place where you'll experience JOY!

Drop over! Take a friend. Leave your cares behind. Everybody needs a little joy in their life -- why not have a little ice cream in a homemade...

I don't think it gets much better than ice cream on a nice day. Except maybe if you go to Joy for a FLIGHT of ice cream. I'm personally a big fan of the Chocolate Shoppe label ice cream served at Joy Ice Cream. They are always very smooth and creamy but also have some really creative flavors. Which does lead to some troubles deciding on a flavor and I'm picky about mixing my flavors ina. Double scoop situation unless they're complimentary flavors. But a flight is a total win with four ice creams and two toppings. All nice and orderly in their own cups lol From Mint chip to Zoreo they were all delicious. The ladies working were very friendly and helpful. Of course they offer samples if you're still having trouble deciding. Things to note, there's no seating indoors but you CAN go inside to order (check out the adorable merch). But there is tons of great outdoor seating for nice days. I'd definitely share the flight next time as its more ice cream that it seems like it is until you try eating it all yourself. We'll...