Temperatures this week have been reaching the upper 60s and 70s, which is perfect timing for Jimmie Cones’ yearly seasonal opening this Thursday (Mar. 17) at 11 a.m. 

   Jimmie Cone has been serving soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt since 1962 at the Damascus location, located at 26420 Ridge Road. The slightly larger Mount Airy location, located at 1312 S Main Street, has been open since 1997. This year, the beloved seasonal business celebrates two incredible milestones: the Mount Airy location celebrates 25 years of service while Damascus hits 60 years.

At the Damascus location, many employees of the shop are our very own Hornets. Junior Joey Lutz expressed loads of excitement when talking about Jimmie Cone’s opening. Just like all of us, he’s excited for warm weather and spring time. He goes onto explain how fun it is to see “friends and family who come by for some ice cream” at a place that is a “staple in Damascus.”

   At first glance, you may think Jimmie Cone only serves classic vanilla and chocolate soft serve flavors. Luckily, they also serve a special flavor that rotates between strawberry, black raspberry and orange. Customers can also indulge in floats, ice cream cakes, flurries, malts, shakes, snowballs and water ice. While the flavors do change, the classic vanilla and chocolate will always be fan favorites.

Ice cream is not the only attraction of Jimmie Cone. Senior Emma Mannix believes that the homegrown business exemplifies “the sense of community” in Damascus. The atmosphere of a warm spring day with the sun beaming down while enjoying a twist at Jimmie Cone is truly unbeatable. The pleasant surprise of running into friends, seeing the little kids yell at truck drivers, teenagers socializing on picnic blankets is second to none. The energy can’t be recreated anywhere else, and that is what keeps costumers coming back for one more cup.