Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Cassella.
Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from Connecticut. My first job was in an ice cream shop, and I loved it! Ice cream was our family tradition and legacy, you could say – my mom’s first job was also in an ice cream shop, and so was my brother’s. My mom always wanted her own shop, so I decided to go to business school in Boston with the goal of opening an ice cream shop or bakery someday.
After graduation, rather than following my initial dreams, I jumped into corporate America for 13 years and worked as a Marketing Director. During Covid, we sold our house in CT, bought an RV, and travelled the country for a year with our (at the time) only daughter. I was working for corporate remotely at the time. We had come through Wilmington and loved it and decided to settle down here. While we loved the area, I was quite surprised by the lack of dessert options in Wilmington. I eventually began looking for a full-time role and got offered a job in Orlando; however, the company was requiring that we relocate. My husband and I decided we didn’t want to raise our kids in Orlando – we had just gotten to Wilmington and loved it! So he encouraged me to finally do my own thing! And Wandering Cone Creamery was born! This May will be our second anniversary of the shop.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t know if the road in small business ownership is ever smooth – haha! My previous experience making ice cream, both in my first job and at home for friends and family, combined with my business experience, definitely helped in the process of opening the shop. Every day is still a learning experience, but my background has helped greatly.
We hit many challenges early on – from issues with construction to broken equipment. We kept pushing along and were two months away from opening when I got diagnosed with leukemia in March ’24. I had no idea how that was going to impact, delay, or change the course of our plans, but with the help of amazing family and friends, we still managed to open on May 31, 2024.
For the first year, I worked a corporate job alongside running the shop and having various doctor appointments. I’d drop the kids off at school in the morning, run to the shop and start making ice cream while taking conference calls off camera. I’d be gone all day while my husband held down the house and kids. We were ships in the night for that first year – it was hard, but we made it work and it was all worth it now. Luckily, my health is now in a better spot and the shop is doing well!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Wandering Cone Creamery is a homemade small batch ice cream shop in downtown Wilmington, NC. Specifically in the Soda Pop District.
We strive to provide the highest quality ice cream with the best customer service. We make all of our ice cream and the majority of our inclusions and toppings onsite from scratch (including our waffle cones, hot fudge, and whipped cream). Our ice cream is made free of any artificial flavors or dyes – even down to our sprinkles – we source naturally colored sprinkles. We’re a peanut-free facility and also offer gluten-free and vegan options. We also make vegan/gluten-free waffle cones on our own dedicated waffle iron.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
We love our community and Wilmington and are so excited and grateful to call Wilmington home both personally and for our business!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wanderingcone.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingcone
