Downtown Macon went years without a dedicated independent ice cream parlor until Shuster’s Candy & Creamery opened on Poplar Street in July 2025, filling a gap that residents and city boosters had been vocal about. The arrival followed a broader pattern of small food businesses clustering along the Poplar Street corridor, where restaurants like Oliver’s and Kinjo already draw foot traffic from nearby loft residents, Mercer University visitors, and tourists headed to the Allman Brothers Big House Museum.
Macon-Bibb County’s long, hot summers (average highs above 90°F from June through September) make ice cream a near year-round draw, with peak demand running roughly April through October. The market includes a mix of family-owned shops and national franchises. Macon Swirls on Bowman Road has operated as a mother-daughter business for several years, building a loyal following on the north side of the city. Franchise options include Marble Slab Creamery on Zebulon Road, Cold Stone Creamery, Baskin-Robbins (co-located with Dunkin’ on Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard), and a Dairy Queen. Macon Water Ice on Cherry Street brings a Philadelphia-style water ice concept to the downtown area, though its focus leans more toward Italian ice than traditional scooped ice cream.
Pricing at Macon’s independent shops tends to run a few dollars below Atlanta equivalents. A single scoop at a local shop generally falls in the $4 to $6 range, while specialty items like flights, milkshakes, and sundaes run $7 to $12. Macon’s college populations at Mercer University and Wesleyan College provide a steady customer base during the academic year, and the Tulsa King production crew filming in Macon during summer 2025 ordered 60 ice cream sandwiches from Shuster’s, a sign of the downtown shop’s early momentum.
Top-Rated Ice Cream Shops in Macon, Georgia
Shuster’s Candy & Creamery
Adres: 616 Poplar St, Macon, GA 31201
Website: shusterscandyandcreamery.com
Shuster’s opened in late July 2025 in the former Philosophie Wine Bar space on Poplar Street, half a block from Macon City Hall. Owners Jonathan and Tennille Shuster revived a family legacy that began with Jonathan’s grandparents’ Shuster’s Confectionery in Newark, New Jersey, in 1955. The shop offers 24 hand-scooped ice cream flavors, freshly made waffle cones, milkshakes, malts, banana splits, floats with gourmet sodas, and ice cream flights. The interior features a 1950s-inspired design with stools, a soda fountain counter, and a wall of nostalgic candy including saltwater taffy, Jelly Belly products, and old-school treats. Tennille Shuster, who is also the art department chair at Mercer University, designed the shop’s branding and painted the interior. A converted walk-in freezer serves as a kids’ party room, and the shop plans to offer boozy milkshakes and floats once its alcohol license is approved. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
Macon Swirls
Adres: 5451 Bowman Rd, Suite 230, Macon, GA 31210
Website: maconswirls.com
Macon Swirls is a family-owned and operated ice cream shop on Bowman Road in north Macon, run by a mother-daughter team. The shop serves scooped ice cream, gelato, Italian ice, soft serve frozen yogurt, and sorbet, with rotating flavors that change regularly. The signature Chocolate Caramel Pecan ice cream features rich chocolate swirled with caramel and topped with crunchy pecans. Multiple reviewers note the shop’s reasonable pricing and the variety of dairy-free options including Italian ice and sorbet for lactose-intolerant customers. The same owners also operate Macon Pizza on Zebulon Road. Macon Swirls offers online ordering through its website and delivery through DoorDash.
Marble Slab Creamery (National franchise with Macon location)
Adres: 5976 Zebulon Rd, Macon, GA 31210
Website: marbleslab.com
Marble Slab Creamery’s Macon location on Zebulon Road, near the Amstar 16 movie theater, has been serving the north Macon area for years. The franchise makes its ice cream in small batches daily on-site and mixes custom creations on a frozen granite slab with the customer’s choice of mix-ins at no extra charge. The menu includes hand-rolled waffle cones, milkshakes, and ice cream cakes available for custom orders with 48 hours’ notice. The location also operates as a Great American Cookies outlet. Open daily from noon, with Friday and Saturday hours extending to 10 p.m.
Ice Cream Shops in Macon: Common Questions
How much does a scoop of ice cream cost at Macon, GA shops?
At Macon’s independent ice cream shops, a single scoop typically runs between $4 and $6, with double scoops around $6 to $8. Waffle cones are usually an additional charge. Specialty items like milkshakes, flights, and sundaes range from $7 to $12. Franchise locations like Marble Slab Creamery price a regular creation around $6 to $7. Prices at Macon shops generally run below comparable Atlanta-area ice cream parlors.
Do I need special permits to open an ice cream shop in Macon, GA?
Opening an ice cream shop in Macon-Bibb County requires a Macon-Bibb County Occupation Tax Certificate (business license), a food service permit from the North Central Health District, a certificate of occupancy confirming the space is properly zoned, and a Georgia seller’s permit for collecting sales tax. All employees who handle food must obtain a Georgia Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. If the shop plans to serve alcohol (such as boozy milkshakes or floats), a separate alcohol license from Macon-Bibb County is required.
How does Macon’s summer heat affect ice cream shop operations?
Macon’s sustained summer heat, with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and high humidity from June through September, drives strong demand for frozen treats but also creates operational challenges. Shops must maintain tight cold-chain management from storage to serving, and outdoor seating areas can be impractical during peak afternoon hours. Most Macon ice cream shops rely heavily on air-conditioned interiors and drive-thru or quick-service formats. The extended warm season (roughly April through October) does benefit shop owners by providing a longer peak sales window than cities farther north.
Are there any locally owned ice cream shops in downtown Macon?
Shuster’s Candy & Creamery at 616 Poplar Street is currently the only dedicated ice cream shop in the downtown core. It opened in July 2025 and fills a gap that downtown Macon lacked for several years. Macon Water Ice on Cherry Street offers water ice and related frozen treats downtown as well, though its focus is broader than traditional ice cream. Most of Macon’s other ice cream options, including Macon Swirls and the franchise locations, are concentrated in the north Macon commercial corridors along Zebulon Road, Bowman Road, and Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard.
Do any ice cream shops in Macon, GA offer dairy-free or vegan options?
Macon Swirls on Bowman Road is noted for its selection of dairy-free options, including Italian ice and sorbet flavors that rotate regularly. Multiple customer reviews specifically mention the shop as a good choice for lactose-intolerant visitors. Marble Slab Creamery offers a sorbet option as part of its standard menu. Shuster’s Candy & Creamery carries a standard ice cream lineup; contact the shop directly to ask about current dairy-free availability.