Jeremiah's Italian Ice

I went to this location and noticed that the vehicle in front of me had a tiny hamster in a ball, which was very cute. I actually own a hamster myself, so I have nothing against them. However, I watched as the hamster was handed to several employees working inside the store. It was passed around between employees and then returned to the customer. When I got to the window, I very politely said, “Please forgive me, but whoever is making our treats, could they please wash their hands?” I had just watched the hamster being passed around by multiple people, and I was concerned about basic food-safety and hygiene. The employee at the window responded in a very rude manner, turning around and saying, “They want us to wash our hands.” She did not wash her hands, and honestly, I did not see whether anyone else did either. What bothered me most was the attitude I received for making a completely reasonable request. I should not have been made to feel bad or embarrassed for asking employees to wash their hands after handling a rodent and before preparing food that customers are going to consume. I understand that hamsters are pets, and again, I have one myself. This is not about disliking the animal. It is simply about hygiene and food safety. Even in my own home, I would never handle my hamster and then prepare food without washing my hands first. I found the entire situation very unsanitary and uncomfortable, and I believe my request was completely reasonable. I hope management will address proper handwashing procedures with the staff and remind employees that customers should never be made to feel uncomfortable for raising a legitimate food-safety concern.

While routinely having a GREAT experience at this location, I stopped in Sunday around 3 with a “buy one, get one free” coupon. Ordering my normal large ($8) vanilla-orange ice cream swirl, the attendant ask for $12. I spoke with the seemingly newer attendant and one that I see routinely, no one provided an explanation. With the crowd inside and behind me in the drive thru, I drove off. Please explain.

I had to put three stars only because the last two times I went to this location they didn’t fill my cup all the way or my fathers and I got the cookie butter ice with vanilla ice cream and there was hardly any ice cream and air gaps for the first time on my visit today, my dad did get just ice cream and they just filled it under the cup line and there were air gaps throughout the middle with no ice cream so he should have just ordered a medium at that point but then his medium may have been the same making it a small serving and it was just odd that the consistency has been falling short the last month. I hope they check this out as I do go twice a week and I’m not shy to say it, the ice cream and ices are wonderful, but I expect to get the same quality on every visit!

My kids and I are frequent customers of this Jeremiah’s Italian ice. The staff here is great and the treats are also fantastic. However, I’m giving the place an overall 4 star rating, because the outdoor patio is very bad. The outdoor patio needs to be power washed or a good deep cleaning. It very disgusting where kids & families sit to enjoy the gelato’s.