Crispy Cones started in a tent in Rexburg, Idaho, and in a few short years, it now has more than 20 locations across the U.S.
The European-style shop serves up a new ice cream experience with cones handcrafted from freshly-made dough, grilled rotisserie-style and then coated in sugar and cinnamon. The pastry cone is then slathered in cookie butter, Nutella or whatever spread you like.
Premium soft serve ice cream made with 10% butter fat is poured into the gourmet cones, and then the dessert is then loaded up with fresh fruit, chocolate treats or whatever toppings the heart desires.
A Shark Tank appearance
One year ago, Crispy Cones founder Jeremy Carlson and his wife Kaitlyn Carlson made an appearance on Shark Tank, where Barbara Corcoran invested $200,000 in the business for a 20% stake to help them grow their franchises.
Inspired by his experience while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Czech Republic, Carlson was fascinated by the pastries that vendors made on the side of the road. At the end of his mission, he had a dream he was making the cones, so when he got back to the U.S., he started to make that dream come true.
After growing out of the tent and opening up a storefront in Logan and then Rexburg, he started to see the opportunity to franchise the dessert company and started making it a reality.
Behind a franchisee’s experience
Crispy Cones franchise owner Andrei Popa speaks to customers at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Andrei Popa owns the Provo and Draper locations and will be opening another location in West Valley City starting in January.
Hailing from Romania, the pastry is familiar to Popa. He was actually in his home country for the holidays last year when he was eating a similar pastry from a street vendor and he told his wife, “I think these cones would kill it in America.”
That week, an Instagram Reel came up on his feed while he was scrolling that was all about Crispy Cones.
He looked more into Crispy Cones, and by February, he signed the rights to purchase six stores in Utah.
“I’m trying to bring that European vibe here, and people love it,” Popa said.
An employee prepares a cone to serve to a customer at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
This isn’t Popa’s first business endeavor, but it is what he calls his “fun business endeavor.” He will continue running his logistics business while running the franchises on the side.
“It’s part of me and where I come from,” Popa said. “It’s not just a pastry shop or a bakery shop. Who doesn’t like that smell? I’m bringing something here that comes from my home. It’s super exciting to me.”
What I ordered
I ordered the Cookies a la Mode, which comes with the following:
A rotisserie-style grilled cone coated in cinnamon sugarCookie butterVanilla ice creamCookie dough bitesOreo chunks
The cone was warm and crispy on the outside with soft, pillowy dough on the inside. The ice cream was creamy and smooth, while the dough bites and cookie bits added a little special crunch. I truly enjoyed the decadent dessert and will be going back to try more.
“We don’t want to just be an ice cream store,” Popa said. “The rules we have in the store is to provide a premium experience. We want to give customers an unforgettable experience.”
Storefront informationAddress: 129 E 13800 S. Suite A3, Draper, UT 84020Hours: Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday, 2-10 p.m.
Danny Castan enjoys her cone at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Customers build their own cones at the register at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Crispy Cones franchise owner Andrei Popa, center, and wife Khemia Popa, right, listen as Jay K. Francis, president and CEO of the South Valley Chamber, left, speaks at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Employee Hayden Wilson works at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
South Valley Chamber ambassadors Michelle Zarlengo, left, and Kim Kussman, center, eat ice cream at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Crispy Cones CEO Jeremy Carlson, left, attends the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Employee Hayden Wilson pours cinnamon sugar at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Customers walk in on opening day of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Employee Lexi Steffey dispenses ice cream from the machine at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Khemia Popa, center, wife of Crispy Cones franchise owner Andrei Popa, shakes hands with Jay K. Francis, president and CEO of the South Valley Chamber, left, at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Crispy Cones franchise owner Andrei Popa, center left, and wife Khemia Popa, center right, cut the ribbon at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Customers wait in line on opening day of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News 
Jarimy Yingling eats the first cone sold at the opening of a new Crispy Cones location in Draper on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Dining and Cooking