South Florida

Drive-Thru Ice Cream Shop Expands in Miami

Charlie’s Ice Cream has opened a second Miami-area shop, bringing soft-serve favorites, walk-up service, and a drive-thru.

Image from Charlie’s Ice Cream on Instagram

MIAMI, FL — Charlie’s Ice Cream has opened a second Miami-area location at 2475 Southwest 97th Avenue, bringing its walk-up, drive-thru ice cream concept to West Miami. Owner Charles Sauer told Business Debut the shop is currently in a soft opening phase.

The new location marks an expansion of Charlie’s Ice Cream, which first opened in Hialeah more than a decade ago. Sauer said the West Miami shop mirrors the original concept while serving a neighborhood-heavy, family-oriented area.

What to Expect

Charlie’s Ice Cream is a full-service ice cream shop with an old-school, nostalgic feel. Guests can order at a walk-up window or use the drive-thru, with outdoor seating available on-site.

The freestanding building spans about 800 square feet and offers outdoor seating for approximately 30 guests, including tables, benches, and umbrellas.

The menu centers on soft-serve ice cream, which Sauer said accounts for roughly 75 percent of sales. Offerings include cones, cups, sundaes, banana splits, waffle bowl sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and an item called an “avalanche,” a soft-serve flurry-style dessert mixed with toppings.

The shop also serves 13 flavors of hard ice cream, including classics like cookies and cream and butter pecan, kid-friendly flavors such as birthday cake and cotton candy, and Hispanic-inspired flavors like dulce de leche and mantecado. More than 20 toppings are available. “We kind of give an old school, nostalgic vibe,” Sauer told Business Debut.

Ownership

Sauer opened his first Charlie’s Ice Cream location about 10 and a half years ago after taking over a former Dairy Queen space. He said he was 23 at the time and learned the business hands-on. “I just had a little savings and I took a risk,” Sauer told Business Debut.