Gene's

Wyatt Dolce

2019-05

Wonderful Ice Cream! Great vanilla flavor, all of the mix ins are great!!! I find it to he reasonably priced and I cant wait to go back. Definitely the creamiest ice cream in town! Must stop by if you can, but be careful it is cash only. There is an drive thru ATM across the street

Dean Plumadore

2024-04

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Joshua Daily

2021-05

Review Date: September 9th, 2015Gene’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.

Sirisha Koppinani

2020-05

Nice ice cream.Cashier can be little friendly to answer questions, has I have never been here to know which one is good at place. Based on google rating, I gave it a try. We tried vanilla chocolate twists and strawberry lemon twist Ice cream and cone good. Strawberry lemon is more tasty. Want to try some other flavor. For 2019 this place closes on September 29th

Stephanie Bradley

2024-01

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Gary

2023-05

Great, long time, local ice cream stop, conveniently located right off Main Street in Bloomington. Nice wide variety of soft serve flavors. They also have floats, skakes, smoothies, chilli dogs, bar-b-q, soda, sundaes and more. Polite, courteous and attentive staff. Nice family shop.

Je'Rid McCormick

2022-05

Gene's soft serve is too tier! I recommend the 👀 on whatever you get. There is parking and benches if you want to relax outside and eat your ice cream. 💯% would do again

Naresh V

2022-05

My daughter love this place. Moderate price.Remember to carry cash if you are visiting as they don’t accept cards.Eyes 👀 on ice cream 🍦 which will make ur kids happy 😊

Travis Claver

2023-08

It's not the best hometown ice cream in the area. But it's a close 2nd. I love the nostalgic feel of a day and time that was not so busy. I get the feeling of the 1980s, and I'm a kid again, and I don't have a care in the world.

Taylor

2023-08

Sadly disappointed. I ordered the strawberry lemonade twist and it tasted like marshmallow. I ordered the Rice Krispie sandwich and it has peanut butter with no warning and the Rice Krispies are soggy. Overpriced and customer service could’ve been better, we felt as if we were interrupting a high school gossip group.The cashier wasn’t even sure how to provide the appropriate amount of change.

Luke Swantek

2023-07

Delicious treats from a neighbor's ice cream spot. Love taking the kids here. Doesn't break the bank too! (Don't forget to bring cash, it's cash only!)

Ted Burton

2023-10

Gene's never fails! The only time genes will disappoint you is when they closed for the season and you can't get their delicious ice cream.

Gavin Leach

2023-05

I've been to jeans a couple times. Usually the ice cream is pretty good. This time the ice cream in the service was a little off. It might have been just an off day but the menu is confusing if you want traditional ice cream because they only have swirls.

Laura Pieper

2023-05

In town for a volleyball tournament and came here after dinner. By far the creamiest ice cream we've ever had! The chocolate M&M avalanche was delicious and the raspberry Sunday was insanely good!

Brian Hastings

2021-05

Fun local institution for soft serve ice cream. Drive through and walk up service. Reasonably priced. The soft serve is unlike what I've had anywhere else; hard to put my finger on it, but reminds me of ice cream and marshmallow fluff. It's good, but not my absolute favorite. Definitely worth a try and many folks swear by it.

Karen Greene

2020-05

Gene's Ice Cream is awesome! The ice cream is delicious. They have many varieties but I always get the strawberry lemon twist soft serve dipped in cherry (magic shell) topping! 😀They are only open March through September, so make sure you take some time to stop by. You can drive up and they will come out and take your order, similar to a drive thru, or you can walk up and order at the window and sit and eat your ice cream on one of the many benches set up around the facility. There is no indoor space for patrons.

Nan Goerlitz

2023-08

Delicious and friendly. Cash only, do come prepared for that. Just the perfect ice cream spot.

Susie G

2023-05

Great ice cream and a great place to take kids. You can get ice cream covered in sprinkles with candy eyes, nose, and tongue. The only things is there is no indoor seating but there are benches outside.

Brandon Kirk

2023-05

Seriously, their ice cream shouldn’t be as good as it is.Their staff is way too friendly and efficient- like they were all made in a lab at Disney.Regardless, 5 stars to Genes. I’ll def be back again.

Dezra Defaye Henry

2020-05

Us and the kids love going here! We love the ice cream its always flavorful! They always make to order what we want! We love the old fashioned style of ordering! Love that i can pull up and eat at the benches! We love getting the really really good crunch coat! Definitely one of the better more affordable ice cream places in toen! A go to spot for us!!

Samantha Ballinger

2023-05

We love this place! I have been getting ice cream from Gene's since I was a little kid. We have never had a bad experience and the ice cream is always excellent!

Trent H

2022-05

Delicious, high-quality soft-serve custard with all kinds of options to satisfy your personal tastes. The chocolate was recommended and was exceptional. A landmark of Bloomington, IL, it is an easy detour off of I-55. The owner is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

Jaden Miriam Kohen

2019-05

The best place in town for ice cream! It's not weird textured soft serve... It's actual ice cream that has been churned until it's the consistency of soft serve, so it's more like a frozen custard or good store bought... although nothing else actually compares 😉They serve a few other things, and apparently have hot peach flavoured typing for sundaes, but I never get passed the size and flavour of a cone and "eyes." Lots and lots of eyes!It's cash only, which had stopped me from going a few times, although maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Kevin

2021-05

Welp, I've only been to Gene's twice now.... but I really really enjoyed it! The soft serve ice cream was way better than I imagined... or am used to.Gene's ice cream is totally worth having at least 4 or more dozen times!I'm going back for more rich, thick, creamy Gene's ice cream.

Travis Miller

2020-05

What's not to love about a walk up ice cream stand. I highly recommend the lemon/ strawberry twist cone. The price is just as great as well. For my wife and i the bill is usually around $6.50. That's pretty impressive for how much you get. The large cone is enough for two people!!. Just remember its cash only. Enjoy!!

Clark Killingsworth

2019-05

Good premium ice cream. Quick walk-up or drive through service. Steady stream of customers. Benches line the perimeter of the property for outdoor seating. I've tried the Turtle Bar, Turtle, dipped cone, and regular cone. It's all good! You don't see many places like this anymore.

Odemaris Mancilla Sibaja

2023-10

I love having ice-cream with my husband in this place so many memories

Raamaprasad A.S

2020-05

Nice handmade icecreams with signature flavours. Their twisties are quite a hit especially the lemon twisty. They also serve wonderful brownies and it is well made and complements the vanilla ice cream very well. They have a drive inn as well as some outdoor seating, so a good place to spend summer evening. Located on the main street you cannot miss this place driving past here. This place is quite a hit with the college students and kids and families.

David McWhorter

2023-09

I'm from Alabama and when I visit family, I always make time for a stop here. I am a second generation customer. Mr Gene and Stephanie have always treated us right.

Hey You

2020-05

A classic mom-and-pop style ice cream stand, with outstanding ice cream, made on-site. The seating area is not the most attractive, but the ice cream is worth it. There's also a drive through if you live close enough. Def. worth a stop if you're in this cute town.