Cone & Cream Founder: Chad Abernathy

From Wheels to Walls: Chad's Sweet Journey to Jacksonville's Coolest Ice Cream Empire

Author

Jax Entrepreneur
April 18, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

MEET TODAY’S GUEST

Chad Abernathy, Founder & Owner of Cone & Cream

In the competitive culinary landscape of Jacksonville, few stories showcase the perfect blend of formal training and entrepreneurial spirit quite like Chad's journey. Long before his ice cream creations became a Jacksonville staple, Chad was building the foundation for culinary excellence through intense study at culinary school and rigorous professional training. His first internship was at Blue Bamboo in 2011 before working at bb’s. “I learned so much from Chef Dennis Chan. Most importantly, customer service and how to manage a business,” Chad highlights.

He also mentions that he always loved to cook and loved to eat. He gives credit to his wife for helping him with culinary school.

But Chad's entrepreneurial instincts weren't confined to the kitchen. Before diving into the dessert world, he successfully operated a landscaping business, demonstrating the business skills that would later help transform a simple idea into a thriving enterprise.

The turning point came a decade ago when Chad's wife suggested what might have seemed like a whimsical idea at the time – an ice cream truck. That spark of inspiration has since evolved through ten years of dedication, experimentation, and growth into what is now one of Jacksonville's most beloved frozen treat destinations, with both mobile and a brick-and-mortar operation, and ambitious plans for the future.

Let’s explore the story behind Cone & Cream and its Founder, Chad Abernathy.

Hey there!

You’re reading Jax Entrepreneur — a newsletter about small business owners and entrepreneurs in Jacksonville, FL. We all have our unique stories when it comes to owning our own businesses — and let’s be real — owning a business is quite a journey. I hope this content helps you reach new opportunities to grow your business. Let’s dive in.
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— Ashleigh Shim, Creator of Jax Entrepreneur & Owner of The Bareclaw Company
THE INTERVIEW

Talking about service with Chad Abernathy

The first thing I noticed about Chad is that he is very passionate about food, quality, and service. His eyes light up when he talks about his process when serving clients and customers. His excitement about food and innovation in his ice cream creations are contagious!

"We make everything fresh and local in our store. Only small batches. We use fresh ingredients and our dairy is from Florida farms," Chad explains. Unlike many competitors who rely on pre-made bases or artificial flavoring, Chad's team creates their ice cream from scratch.

Chad talks about pureeing real strawberries for his strawberry ice cream and goes on to say, "I appreciate the process of doing stuff the right way since I have a background in culinary,” This chef's mindset extends to his ingredient selection, where Chad applies restaurant industry principles to his dessert creations. "We use in-season fruits when they're at their freshest," he explains. The result is an impressive range of authentic flavors that change with the seasons. From vibrant sorbets to distinctive bases made with ube, coconut, mango, and more!

Cone & Cream’s Brown Butter Pecan ice cream exemplifies this approach. While many ice cream shops would simply mix nuts into a standard base, Chad elevates this classic by browning the butter himself, using real brown sugar and pecans, making dulce de leche from scratch, and carefully caramelizing ingredients to achieve a real butter pecan flavor. It's not just about taste, either—Chad insists on getting the aromatic qualities right.

My mouth was watering during this conversation! I could smell the butter pecan in front of me!

How do you connect with the Jacksonville community?

Chad's journey as an ice cream entrepreneur has been sweetened by roots in the Jacksonville community. His debut as a vendor came at the "Battle on the Island," a high school sporting event in Fleming Island, FL, where he served approximately 225 customers—a milestone moment that marked the beginning of his ice cream truck's relationship with local events.

Since that first outing, Chad's business has grown to partner with some of Northeast Florida's big establishments. His ice cream has been featured at Sawgrass, Ritz Carlton, and he’s captured business with the NFL organization, Jacksonville Jaguars, demonstrating how a small local business can reach premium venues through putting yourself out there, exceptional quality and top tier service. Perhaps most notably, Chad even catered a birthday celebration for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence—bringing his handcrafted treats to one of Jacksonville's most recognized sports figures.

Beyond these high-profile connections, Chad remains committed to serving the grassroots community that supported his initial growth. His mobile ice cream operation continues to be a favorite at local schools and residential communities throughout Jacksonville, creating sweet memories while building customer loyalty that has helped fuel his expansion from trucks to his storefront on Monument Road across from Ed Austin Regional Park.

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80% of my customers are regulars.

I’ve gotten personal calls about how good the ice cream is so it’s nice to hear that.

Chad Abernathy, Founder & Owner of Cone & Cream

What is one unexpected lesson you have learned as an entrepreneur and business owner?

Like many small business owners, Chad has faced his share of marketing challenges while building his ice cream empire. With limited resources and without a dedicated marketing team, finding effective ways to promote his business has required creativity and persistence. Time constraints present a significant obstacle—balancing daily operations, production, and customer service leaves precious little opportunity for developing comprehensive marketing strategies.

Despite these challenges, Chad has leveraged authentic community connections with impressive results. Word-of-mouth has become a powerful marketing tool, complemented by his strategic location choice on Monument Road across from one of the area’s largest sports & recreation parks. His grassroots approach includes dropping off goodie bags of samples, personally engaging in community events, partnering with local schools, and distributing coupons at Ed Austin Regional Park—proving that sometimes the most effective promotion comes from personal touch rather than big marketing budgets.

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I’ve learned that all of it’s unexpected. And you expect everything to be good going in and you can be naive about the downsides…costs, marketing efforts…everyday something comes up and it’s new.

Chad Abernathy, Founder & Owner of Cone & Cream

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Real Estate: What makes Cone & Cream brick and mortar successful?

6 factors that played into this successful small retail business:

  • High visibility, foot traffic, and vehicle traffic being located near the intersection of McCormick and Monument across from Ed Austin Regional Park

  • Strong anchor tenant, Publix, in the same plaza

  • Neighboring quality credit tenants like Pizza Hut, UPS, and Hair Cuttery, AT&T, and H&R block

  • The sub-market supports the products and services being in a highly concentrated residential zoning area with a number of schools nearby

  • The price point on his lease makes sense for his business

  • The store doesn’t need a lot of space

Now, let’s get back to the story.

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What are your goals for your business over the next year?

Chad is a firm believer that a person has to take some risk to be successful. He plans to partner with other local businesses that have freezer space and getting his pint products out to new customers. He’s already done tests with a batch of ice-cream prepared two months ago with taste-testers who unknowingly were a part of his experiment. They were shocked because the batch tasted like it was freshly made!

In addition, Chad will add a second truck and second location, not just by the means of a store, but by building a true brand that people love and recognize.

All in all, Chad took a huge bet on himself. Nothing is guaranteed when you start a business. It’s safe to say it has worked out for Chad and his family who run the business with him. He emphasizes that people should not be afraid to bet on themselves or play it too safe if they are going to start a business.

“You can’t give up. You get your message to the right people and you’ll blow up,” Chad says with determination.

I agree! Giving up is like quitting. You have to give yourself a real chance to succeed.

MUST-KNOW INFO

Cone & Cream Services & Contact

Services and Service Area: List here

  • Open 3-9 pm or 3-8 pm

  • Closed Monday

➡️ Phone Number & Email: 904-536-2988 | [email protected]

➡️ Address: 2771 Monument Rd Suite 36, Jacksonville, FL 32225

VALUES OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

Family Food Tours
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After spending time with Chad at a local coffee shop, Grounds of Grace, in Arlington, I realized he is a determined, go-getter that loves challenges and enjoys creating lasting memories around food with his family. His family makes intentional efforts to explore local cuisine and support other restaurant owners. They love to try new food, flavors, and experience culture through food.

Outside of food, Chad enjoys playing sports with his daughters and hanging out at the beach.

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