For a Sugary Dose of Nostalgia, Swing by Putz’s for One of the Best Cones in Ohio

It doesn't get much more timeless than a scoop of soft serve on a summer evening. Just ask the folks at Putz's, a classic soft-service ice cream joint in Cincinnati, Ohio, that's been doling out sweet treats since 1938. Today, a trip to this family-run business is a hallmark of the season. Whether you're visiting for the first time or the fiftieth, you're sure to get a sweet dose of nostalgia when you visit Putz's Creamy Whip.

First, a little history. Soon after the Great Depression, Constantine and Anna Putz decided it was time to try something new. Rather than serving pies and baked goods door-to-door, they were inspired to open up their own shop in two streetcars. Just a few years later, they added ice cream to the menu, and along with their daughter and her husband, began serving hand-dipped cones—three scoops for five cents. Despite the hardships over the years, ranging from the war to medical emergencies in the family, the business persisted. A new location was selected near Mt. Airy, two new Electro-Freeze ice cream machines were purchased, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Those two ice cream machines are still in operation today, and the family swears that this is what sets their soft serve apart. By the 1960s, long-time visitors to Putz's began calling Ray and Gertie—the shop's third-generation owners—Grandma and Grandpa Putz. Then there was the event that almost ended Putz's longstanding business: The government announced its plans to bring the I-74 expressway within three feet of the shop's back door, effectively blocking all deliveries and taking away the picnic table space. Lil Ehrhardt, now a part of the family, wrote to President Nixon himself explaining that Putz's was supporting two whole families and that the extension would ruin their business. Imagine everyone's delight when the U.S. Department of Transportation wrote back announcing that it would find a way to move the line back by another nine feet. As they shared on their website, "it was a huge victory for the little guy."

Visit today and you'll find some classic food offerings on the menu: hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, foot-long cheese Coneys, and burgers—but you're likely here for something sweet. In addition to soft-serve cones, Putz's offers shakes, malts, and banana splits. What sets this business apart isn't just the delicious, consistently creamy ice cream; it's the smiles behind the service. Visitors quickly feel like locals, if not family.

Putz's Creamy Whip is open seasonlly between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. every day. One thing to note: Putz's is cash-only, so be sure to bring some with you. For more information, be sure to visit the official Putz's Creamy Whip website.

Have you visited Putz's recently? What's your go-to order? If you haven't been, be sure to send this article to a fellow ice cream enthusiast and let the planning begin. Looking for even more sweet spots in the Buckeye State? Take a look at this Yellow Springs ice cream shop that serves up a delightful concoction known as ice cream nachos.