Butterfat content, overrun ratios, and base ingredients separate a forgettable scoop from one worth driving across town for. Tennessee’s Department of Health requires every ice cream shop operating in the state to hold a valid food service permit, and county health departments conduct routine unannounced inspections that score establishments on sanitation, temperature control, and food handling practices. Shops that make ice cream on-site face additional scrutiny under Tennessee’s food manufacturing guidelines, which classify dairy-based frozen desserts as potentially hazardous foods requiring strict time and temperature controls (holding at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below). The Tennessee Department of Agriculture oversees retail food store permits for shops that also sell prepackaged pints or quarts, with annual permit fees based on establishment size and food types sold.
The state’s ice cream landscape varies considerably by region. Nashville’s rapid population growth has fueled a wave of artisan creameries in neighborhoods like The Gulch, East Nashville, and Hillsboro Village, where shops experiment with Southern-inspired flavors such as banana pudding, blackberry cornbread, and bourbon pecan. Knoxville’s South Knoxville corridor and Market Square have become hubs for small-batch creameries sourcing milk from East Tennessee dairy farms. In Memphis, the Broad Avenue Arts District and South Main neighborhood host shops blending homemade ice cream with bubble tea and specialty toppings that reflect the city’s diverse culinary identity.
Every employee who prepares or serves food in a Tennessee ice cream shop must obtain a Tennessee Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire by passing a food safety exam, with state law capping the test fee at $15 (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53). Managers may be required to earn a Food Protection Manager Certification, which covers topics such as allergen protocols and cross-contamination prevention. These requirements apply equally to scoop shops, soft-serve stands, and mobile ice cream vendors.
When selecting an ice cream shop in Tennessee, checking the establishment’s health inspection score is a practical first step. County health departments in Nashville (Davidson County), Knoxville (Knox County), and Memphis (Shelby County) publish inspection results online, allowing consumers to verify compliance before visiting. Shops that produce ice cream in-house should be able to describe their sourcing and production methods. Locally sourced dairy tends to result in a fresher, denser product with higher butterfat content. Seasonal and rotating flavors often indicate a shop that prioritizes small-batch production over bulk purchasing. Verify that the business holds a current Tennessee food service permit, which should be displayed in a visible location within the shop.
Top Ice Cream Shop Providers in Tennessee
1. Mike’s Ice Cream
- Address: 129 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN 37201
- Phone: (615) 742-6453
- Website: https://mikesicecream.com
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,877 reviews)
- Services: handmade ice cream (30+ flavors), milkshakes, sundaes, sorbets, gourmet coffee and espresso bar, hot chocolate
- Description: Mike’s Ice Cream has operated on Nashville’s Second Avenue since 2003, making all ice cream in-house daily using original recipes and locally sourced ingredients. The shop offers rotating seasonal flavors alongside standards like Rocky Top Road, Blackberry Cornbread, and Tennessee Fudge, and also serves as a full coffee and espresso bar.
2. Cruze Farm Ice Cream
- Address: 2721 Asbury Rd, Knoxville, TN 37914
- Phone: (865) 333-1265
- Website: https://cruzefarm.com
- Rating: 4.8/5 (698 reviews)
- Services: fresh churned soft serve ice cream, cones, milkshakes, sundaes, floats, churns (double-thick shakes), espresso drinks, farm-bottled whole milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, coffee milk
- Description: Cruze Farm is a family dairy farm in Knoxville that milks Jersey cows on pasture year-round and churns ice cream from its own herd’s milk at a state-approved and inspected processing plant. The East Knoxville location, housed in a historic 1893 building, opened as the first permanent shop in 2017, and the farm operates additional locations in downtown Knoxville and Sevierville.
3. Sugar Ghost
- Address: 2615 Broad Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
- Phone: (901) 646-6711
- Website: https://sugarghostmemphis.com
- Rating: 4.7/5 (449 reviews)
- Services: homemade ice cream, soft serve custard, bubble tea, milk tea, shakes, ice cream tacos, custom cakes
- Description: Sugar Ghost opened in October 2021 in Memphis’s Broad Avenue Arts District, offering house-made ice cream in flavors like Mud Island (chocolate with peanut butter cups, pretzels, and pecans), Nanner Puddin, and Ube, alongside a full bubble tea menu. The shop also operates a second location in Germantown.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ice Cream Shop in Tennessee
Q: What permits does an ice cream shop need to operate in Tennessee?
An ice cream shop in Tennessee must hold a food service permit issued by the county health department, a Tennessee business license, and a seller’s permit for collecting sales tax. Shops that manufacture ice cream on-site may also need compliance with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s food manufacturing regulations, particularly if selling prepackaged products for off-premises consumption. The food service permit requires passing an initial health inspection, with annual renewal fees set by state statute based on seating capacity ($210 per year for 50 seats or fewer, $360 for establishments with 51 or more seats).
Q: How are Tennessee ice cream shops inspected?
County health departments conduct routine unannounced inspections of all food service establishments, including ice cream shops. Inspectors evaluate temperature control (frozen products must be stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below), sanitation practices, employee hygiene, and equipment maintenance. Inspection results are scored and published online by most Tennessee counties. Critical violations, such as improper holding temperatures for dairy products, can result in follow-up inspections or temporary closure until corrections are verified.
Q: What is the difference between ice cream, gelato, and frozen custard in terms of ingredients?
Ice cream must contain at least 10 percent milkfat by federal FDA standards and is churned at higher speeds to incorporate air (known as overrun), which gives it a lighter texture. Gelato typically uses a higher proportion of milk to cream, resulting in lower fat content and a denser consistency because it is churned more slowly. Frozen custard contains egg yolks in addition to cream and sugar, which creates a richer, smoother texture. Tennessee shops offering any of these products must comply with the same food safety temperature requirements.
Q: Do Tennessee ice cream shops need to accommodate food allergies?
Tennessee does not have a state law specifically requiring ice cream shops to post allergen warnings, but the federal Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act applies to prepackaged products. Shops that make ice cream on-site should be able to identify the presence of common allergens (milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy) in their products. Consumers with severe allergies should ask about shared equipment and cross-contact risks, as many shops produce nut-based and dairy-free flavors on the same machinery.