Charlotte shop offers over-the-top milkshakes, wild desserts + Insta-worthy treats
This summer, I’m on the hunt for Charlotte’s best ice cream in a series I’m calling “Tristan Scoops Charlotte.” This week, we went big — like, really big. Our stop: The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar & Ice Cream Shop in Concord.
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If you are looking for a quiet scoop of vanilla in a cone, this is not your place. If you are looking for an over-the-top, camera-ready dessert experience, you just found it.
We met with owners Aaron and Monica Leach at the Concord location to learn more about the shop behind all the social media hype.
The Crazy Mason started in Myrtle Beach and has grown into a small but fast-growing chain along the East Coast. The Leaches take pride in being active in the local community, supporting schools and organizations like the Humane Society.
When you walk in, the first thing you notice is not the ice cream, it is the space.
The shop spans a large double storefront, and nearly every corner feels designed for a photo. From balloon walls to rose backdrops to giant waffle “wings,” there are picture stations everywhere you turn. It is part dessert shop, part content studio.
There is plenty of indoor seating if you want to cool off, along with outdoor picnic tables when the weather cooperates. Either way, do not expect to leave without taking at least one picture.
If you struggle with decisions, consider this your warning.
The menu and the portions are both massive. Milkshakes, sundaes, ice cream nachos, ice cream cookies, ice cream waffles and fully customizable creations fill the board. It is the kind of place where you should probably check the menu ahead of time — otherwise you might be standing at the counter for a while.
The reason for all the hype is simple: Everything is over the top.
This is an ice cream shop you devour with your eyes first.
When you come here, you go big. That means ordering one of the signature milkshakes served in a custom mason jar that you get to take home.
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I went with the Build Me Up Buttercup, and it lived up to the name. Vanilla ice cream blended with Reese’s peanut butter sauce was poured into a chocolate and peanut butter-swirled jar with a peanut butter rim rolled in Mini Reese’s Pieces. It was topped with two Reese’s peanut butter cups, more candy pieces, peanut butter sauce, chocolate drizzle and whipped icing. It was rich, sweet and completely over the top in the best way.
Monica recommended the Strawberry Shortcake Nachos, and this might have been the surprise star of the visit. Vanilla ice cream was layered with strawberry sauce, pound cake pieces, strawberry crunch, whipped topping and fresh strawberries, then served with cinnamon-sugar chips fried in-house. As someone who ranks nachos just behind pizza and ice cream, I can confidently say these delivered.
We also had a special guest reviewer with us. My brother, Brady, home from college, went with the Cookie Mashup milkshake. This one combined Cookies and Cream and Cookie Dough in a vanilla-frosted jar rolled in crushed Oreos and Chips Ahoy. It was topped with a full chocolate chip cookie, an Oreo, cookie dough bites, cookie crumble, whipped icing and chocolate sauce. It was as massive as it sounds.
As the website says, the hardest part about visiting The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar and Ice Cream Shop is figuring out what to order.
With so many combinations and over-the-top creations, the options feel endless. But no matter what you choose, two things are guaranteed: It is going to taste good. And your camera roll is about to get an upgrade.
On our Tristan Scoops Charlotte tour, The Crazy Mason stands out as the most fun, most over-the-top stop yet.
Location: 5965 Thunder Rd NW, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 816 Brayden Pkwy #107, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Cuisine: Ice cream, dessert
Instagram: @crazymason_milkshakes
Tristan Graziano, a Weddington High School student, enjoys golfing in his free time and hanging with his friends. Tristan can be reached on Instagram @tristan_graz03 and @tristanscoops. Jamie Graziano, aka The GrazFather, is a dad who dreams of starting his food review and travel website TheGrazFather.com. Jamie can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @thegrazfather.
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