Many school districts are already back in school -- and classes resume in many others next week. That means it's time to say *goodbye* to the summer time.
In one local neighborhood, a summertime tradition means a trip to a quirky ice cream stand. Local 12 News Reporter Larry Davis takes us to a place that is "So Cincinnati."
The giant ice cream cone that stands out on Tylersville Road in West Chester is home to the cone. Inside, workers are serving up tasty treats to customers who travel from as far away as Dayton and Northern Kentucky.
The Wren family has been serving ice cream in the Tri-State for nearly forty years. While on vacation in Florida several years ago, family members spotted a unique building for sale---a building in the shape of an ice cream cone. "My first thought was oh my gosh this could be a really unusual tacky building."
Keith Wren says he and his father fell in love with it---bought it--and spent two years putting it together. The cone became an overnight success. "It was really apparent after the first day of being in business that we needed another cash register and it was more apparent that we needed more ice cream machines."
Over the years, The Cone has added kiddie rides and an arcade room. The Cone also goes on the road with three mobile ice cream units. The long drive-thru is affectionately referred to as "the racetrack." "Sometimes we have to come out and help people because they get a little confused."
The signature product at the cone-- is orange vanilla ice cream. "All of our flavors are ground up fruit or they are natural. We don't use an artificial flavor. That's one of our claims to fame."
While the unusual building is a big draw, Keith Wren says it's the product that keeps customers coming back for more. "If you enhance it or make it yourself, its a tremendous amount of work and thats our secret really, is quality and maintaining the quality. Its very simple."
The Cone's gotten time in the national spotlight too. AOL voted it one of the best family friendly restaurants.
