Gene's - Bloomington: Best Ice Cream Shack with Nostalgic Flavors & Friendly Service

I don’t leave reviews often, but this is hands down the best ice cream in Bloomington/Normal. My girlfriend and I this summer went to every ice cream place in town, including the fast food places like Dairy Queen. Nothing compared to Gene’s. It’s affordable with that ‘at home’ feel. Highly recommended!

In town for the weekend and decided I andy sister needed some ice cream. Always delicious and served with a smile. They are seasonal so you need to check if they are closed or open.

Been going here since I was a kid. Love this place! Today I got the brownie delight. It was great!

Review Date: September 9th, 2015 Gene’s is a sweet place to go. Another trip to Bloomington/Normal means another stop at an ice cream shack and another blog in a long string of ice cream shack posts. This one happened near the time ice cream shacks start to wind down for the season. As with most ice cream shacks, Gene’s is one of those small buildings that only offers outside seating. But, I do recall there being a drive-thru, which is not rare but somewhat uncommon for ice cream shacks. On this particular day, my girlfriend and I parked behind the building and walked around to the front to place an order. After looking over the relatively simple menu, I decided upon the strawberry shortcake sundae. Aside from peanut butter-flavored things, strawberry-flavored things are my go-to items when I order sweets. I don’t remember what my girlfriend ordered (maybe a banana split?) but I know that it didn’t take long for our diabetes-in-a-cup order to be called out. As I said in the last paragraph, the menu is simple compared to other ice cream shacks. I suffer easily from choice paralysis, so the lack of a million options was a breath of fresh air. We hung out around the building as we chowed down (can you chow down ice cream?) our snacks. Each bite was a bliss of strawberry heaven. After I finished off my sundae, I debated going back up and asking if they offered free refills. My girlfriend said I was being silly and too optimistic. So, I didn’t. But I did consider it for the comedic value. Any who, Gene’s was a treat to visit. The menu was simple and offered a lot while offering not a lot at the same time. The parking situation is different. You park behind the building and walk around to the front to place the order. You can pull around the building and use the drive-thru, but you have to order from your passenger side due to street directions, I believe. I don’t think I said this in all the other ice cream shack posts but a lot of these places are CASH ONLY, so make sure you have some just in case.

Gene’s is a local favorite for a reason. Their ice cream is rich, flavorful, and always hits the spot. It’s one of the few places that still offers crunch coat, a nostalgic treat that takes me right back to childhood. The staff are super friendly, and there’s always a great crowd hanging out, enjoying their treats and soaking up the summer vibes. Don’t miss it!

Drive through service. We really like Gene's ice cream. The drive through is often busy but the young men and women are quick, friendly, helpful and always smiling. The lines are never ending but they all move quickly and efficiently, either at the window or drive through. Don't miss this B/N favorite.