Cold Stone Creamery

For New Yorkers navigating the vibrant energy of Midtown Manhattan, especially on a sweltering summer day, Cold Stone Creamery on 42nd Street offers a refreshing and customizable escape into "ice-cream heaven." This isn't just a place to grab a scoop; it's an interactive experience where your ice cream is made to order, right before your eyes, on a frozen granite stone. Known for its rich, creamy ice cream and an almost endless array of mix-ins, Cold Stone Creamery provides a unique way to personalize your sweet treat, making every visit a fresh adventure.

This article will serve as your comprehensive guide to the Cold Stone Creamery located at 350 W 42nd St, providing an engaging and informative overview for local users in New York. We'll explore its highly accessible location in the heart of the Theater District, detail the wide range of services and customizable options available, highlight its distinguishing features, and provide all the necessary contact information. Our aim is to paint a factual yet inviting picture, helping you understand why this particular shop remains a recommended spot for satisfying your ice cream cravings in the city. The emphasis on "delicious" ice cream and the ability to "have fun and be creative" with toppings are key attractions.

Cold Stone Creamery stands out in the ice cream landscape with its unique preparation method. The "cold stone" itself is central to the experience, allowing "crew members" to chop and fold your chosen ice cream flavors and mix-ins together, ensuring every bite is packed with your desired combination. This fresh-mixing approach guarantees a unique texture and flavor integration that sets it apart from pre-scooped options, making it a fan favorite for those who appreciate a personalized touch to their dessert.

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The Cold Stone Creamery we're highlighting is ideally situated at 350 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA. This prime location places it right in the bustling heart of Midtown Manhattan, directly on 42nd Street, one of the city's most iconic and heavily trafficked avenues. It's perfectly positioned within the Theater District, making it an extremely convenient stop for theater-goers, tourists exploring Times Square, and locals working or living in the vicinity.

Accessibility to this Cold Stone Creamery is unparalleled for New Yorkers. The area is a major transit hub, with direct access to numerous subway lines at the Times Square-42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal complex (A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, 7 lines). This makes it effortlessly reachable from virtually anywhere in Manhattan, as well as easy connections to outer boroughs. Multiple bus routes also run along 42nd Street and surrounding avenues, further enhancing its public transportation convenience.

The street-level presence ensures high visibility and easy access for spontaneous visits, especially on a "90 something degrees" day, as one customer described. The shop is noted as being "very clean and comfortable," providing a pleasant environment to "chill while enjoying my ice cream." Its integration into the vibrant Midtown West landscape means you can seamlessly incorporate a delicious ice cream break into a day of sightseeing, shopping, or attending performances.

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Cold Stone Creamery specializes in creating highly customizable ice cream experiences, centered around their unique "cold stone" mixing process. Here's a breakdown of the services and products you can expect at their 42nd Street location:

• Customizable Ice Cream Creations: This is their signature offering. Customers choose their favorite ice cream flavor(s) and then select from a vast array of "mix-ins" (candies, fruits, nuts, cookies, brownies, etc.). These are then expertly blended together on a frozen granite stone, ensuring every bite has a mix of flavors and textures. The result is a truly personalized treat. One customer enjoyed a "strawberry cheesecake with graham cracker crumbs in a cup." Another had "chocolate with brownie bites and syrup."

• Signature Creations: For those who prefer a pre-designed combination, Cold Stone offers a menu of "Signature Creations" – popular, expertly crafted combinations of ice cream and mix-ins. These often align with their "make your own" pricing structure, offering "more bang for your buck with the 2-3 topping preset," as one reviewer noted.

• Ice Cream Flavors: They have a "great selection" of base ice cream flavors, "ranging from basic flavors to more interesting and unique flavors." These include classic options like French Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and more specialized ones such as Cake Batter, Coffee, Mint, and Sweet Cream.

• Mix-in Options: A diverse assortment of toppings, from fresh fruits (like strawberries, bananas) and nuts (pecans, almonds) to candies (M&M's, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups), cookies (Oreos, Nutter Butters), brownies, pie crust, and various syrups (hot fudge, caramel). "Tons of topping options" allow you to "have fun and be creative."

• Ice Cream Cakes: Available for special occasions, Cold Stone offers a variety of ice cream cakes that feature layers of ice cream, mix-ins, and cake, all decorated beautifully. These can be pre-made or custom-ordered.

• Shakes & Smoothies: Blended beverages made with your choice of ice cream or fruit, often with mix-ins.

• Pints & Quarts To-Go: Take your favorite ice cream or Signature Creation home in freshly packed pint or quart containers.

• Catering: Many Cold Stone locations offer catering services for events, bringing the customizable ice cream experience directly to parties, corporate events, and gatherings.

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Cold Stone Creamery on 42nd Street offers several distinguishing features and highlights that define its unique position in the New York City dessert scene:

• The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience (Customization): The defining feature is the ability to create your "own" ice cream masterpiece. The "cold stone" mixing process ensures that your chosen ice cream base and "tons of topping options" are thoroughly integrated, providing a personalized flavor and texture in every bite. This level of customization is a significant draw for many.

• High-Quality, Delicious Ice Cream: Customers consistently describe the ice cream itself as "delicious" and "refreshing." The brand is known for its super-premium ice cream, which has a rich, dense, and creamy texture. The quality of the base flavors ensures a satisfying experience even before mix-ins are added.

• Extensive Flavor and Mix-in Selection: With a "great selection, ranging from basic flavors to more interesting and unique flavors" and a vast array of mix-ins, customers have virtually limitless possibilities for creating their perfect treat. This variety ensures there's always something new to try or a beloved classic to revisit.

• Clean and Comfortable Environment: As noted by a frequent customer, this particular shop is "very clean and comfortable." This provides a pleasant atmosphere for patrons to "chill while enjoying my ice cream," a welcome respite in the busy Midtown area.

• Strategic Midtown Location: Situated on 42nd Street, the shop benefits from high foot traffic and easy accessibility from major subway lines and attractions. This makes it an ideal spontaneous stop for a sweet treat after a show, during sightseeing, or simply during a work break.

• Pricing & Value Considerations: While some customers find the price "weirdly expensive for a scoop of ice cream with 2-3 toppings," they also note that "the preset size small is the same price as a make your own with one topping, you’ll get more bang for your buck with the 2-3 topping preset but it feels less custom." This indicates that while prices are on the higher side, there are ways to maximize value by choosing pre-set options.

• Absence of Singing: A nostalgic highlight from "back in the day," one customer specifically noted that "they don’t sing here." While this might disappoint long-time fans of the Cold Stone experience from other locations or eras (like the one in Tokyo), it doesn't detract from the quality of the ice cream itself.

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For those looking to visit or inquire about the Cold Stone Creamery location on W 42nd Street in New York City, here is the essential contact information:

• Address: 350 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

• Phone: (646) 454-0568

Please note that the mobile phone number provided, +1 646-454-0568, is identical to the main phone number. For the most accurate and up-to-date operating hours, especially considering holiday schedules or potential seasonal changes, it is always recommended to check their official website or call the store directly before your visit.

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For New Yorkers, Cold Stone Creamery on 42nd Street presents a compelling option for a sweet treat, making it well-suited for the local lifestyle despite some minor considerations.

Firstly, its prime and easily accessible Midtown location is a significant advantage. Situated directly on 42nd Street in the Theater District, it's incredibly convenient for residents working in the area, enjoying a day out in Times Square, or commuting through this major hub. Its proximity to numerous subway lines and bus routes makes it an effortless stop, perfect for a quick, refreshing break on a "90 something degrees" day or after a long day.

Secondly, the core offering of customizable, delicious ice cream deeply resonates with the New York preference for personalization and quality. The ability to choose your base flavor and then select from "tons of topping options" to be mixed on the "cold stone" ensures a unique and satisfying experience every time. The ice cream itself is consistently praised as "delicious" and "refreshing." While the pricing might feel "weirdly expensive" for some, the perceived value often lies in the quality of ingredients and the interactive, made-to-order experience. The fact that a loyal "long time Cold Stone fan" strongly recommends this particular shop speaks volumes about its consistent delivery of a satisfying product.

Furthermore, the observation that the shop is "very clean and comfortable" provides a pleasant atmosphere for locals to "chill while enjoying my ice cream." In a city where space and comfort can be at a premium, this contributes positively to the overall experience. Even without the nostalgic singing, the fundamental quality and customization remain.

In conclusion, Cold Stone Creamery at 350 W 42nd St is a reliable and enjoyable destination for New Yorkers. It offers a consistently delicious product, extensive customization, and a comfortable environment in a highly convenient Midtown location. It’s an ideal spot for a refreshing treat that caters to individual tastes, making it a solid choice for a local sweet escape.

Cold Stone Creamery

350 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA