GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – For more than a century, Tony’s Ice Cream in Gastonia has remained a beloved fixture, serving up nostalgia and tradition with every scoop.
Tony’s is a family-owned establishment that’s been delighting locals since 1915, and if you ask long-time patrons, not much has changed. “Oh yeah, it hasn’t changed. It’s changed almost none,” says Joe Metz, a customer for over 60 years, who’s seen the business evolve but never stray from its roots.
The ice cream parlor, now located on Franklin Boulevard, first opened its doors in 1947, and is still serving up the same classic ice cream flavors that have become synonymous with the Tony’s name. “We don’t just make ice cream, we make ice cream parlor ice cream,” says Louis Coletta, the current owner. “Something has to set you apart.”
Classic flavors like black cherry, lemon, and strawberry continue to draw in crowds, many of whom return for the same reason: it’s a happy place. “People just flock in here,” says Judith Metz, another longtime patron. “It’s a happy place.”
For Louis, 86, Tony’s Ice Cream is more than just a family business — it’s a lifelong passion. “An ice cream dipper is part of my hand. I’ve done it all my life,” Louis reflects. “When I was four years old, I was on the ice cream truck with my daddy.”
A family legacy that now spans five generations, the story of Tony’s Ice Cream is also now part of the Gaston County Museum. An exhibit titled “Old-Fashioned Way: The Tony’s Ice Cream Story” showcases the journey, with a photo of a young Louis featured prominently. The museum’s curator, Alicyn Wiedrich, expressed excitement about sharing the family’s tale. “Who doesn’t want to tell a story about ice cream?” she said.
The roots of Tony’s Ice Cream trace back to an immigrant story. Louis’ grandfather, Carmine Coletta, founded Coletta’s Ice Cream over a century ago with nothing more than a pushcart and a horse-drawn wagon. He sold ice cream to people on the streets, and from the very beginning, Carmine was committed to quality. “We don’t compromise on flavor at all,” Louis says, echoing the lessons passed down from his grandfather.
In those early years, Carmine refused to cut corners, a principle he instilled in his son, Anthony, and later in Louis. “Flavor, quality, and customer service. That’s what my granddad taught my dad. That’s what my dad taught me,” Louis says.
Carmine eventually opened a store on Willow Street, and the family continued to expand, with son-in-law Tony Janetta opening two City Ice Cream locations, including the one on Franklin Boulevard. Today, the original Tony’s Ice Cream store on Franklin is the only location still in operation.
Despite his 86 years, Louis remains hands-on in the business. “I’m still here every day,” he says. “Everybody tells me where I ought to be, I can’t think of a better place for me to be than right here looking after the store.”
At the Gaston County Museum, visitors can see historical artifacts from the family’s early days, including the barrel Carmine used to sell ice cream, along with his ice cream scoop and the brass bell that signaled the start of business. Guided tours of the exhibit are available Saturdays at 2 p.m.
Tony’s most popular flavor? Chocolate. “They make it over across the street there, and I think that makes a big difference,” says regular customer Judith Goetz.
A behind-the-scenes look at the ice cream production facility reveals the fast-paced nature of the operation. Louis’ grandson, A.P. Bradley, is now a central figure in the daily hustle. “For an hour and a half, ice cream is coming out of there, there is no pause button,” Bradley explains.
A.P., who has worked at Tony’s for 25 years, started when he was just 12. He takes pride in his role, saying, “My favorite part about making ice cream is the smile that it puts on people’s faces.”
That pride, along with the immigrant work ethic that built the business, remains a driving force at Tony’s Ice Cream. Louis taps his chest, affirming, “That’s right here.”
As curator Alicyn Wiedrich notes, “It takes all of us to make a community. And I think the Coletta and Janetta family are really great examples.”
For generations, Tony’s Ice Cream has been a place where time stands still — a sweet tradition that continues to bring joy to the community. As Louis says, “It’s not as easy as what we make it look like. We’ve been doing this a hundred years, you know, we’ve been paying attention.”
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