Looks like another legendary Fort Lauderdale staple has closed. Beloved Wilton Manors ice cream parlor, Wilton Creamery, has closed after more than a decade on Wilton Drive, and the news comes months after the shop made a plea to the community for help. The chef-driven ice cream shop served its final scoops on Dec. 23, 2025, following an announcement shared on Instagram eight weeks earlier.
“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that we will be closing mid-December,” the beloved ice cream shop wrote in its initial post. “It has been an honor to serve this community.”
The closure marks the end of a decade-long run for one of Wilton Manors’ most recognizable dessert spots, known for its rotating flavors, late-night hours, and a loyal local following.
Since 2014, it stood apart from standard scoop shops, featuring chef-driven recipes, an adult-leaning flavor profile that fit naturally into the neighborhood’s nightlife vibe.
A Decade on Wilton Drive
Wilton Creamery opened in 2014 at 2301 Wilton Dr., in the heart of Wilton Manors’ main drag. From the start, it stood apart from standard scoop shops, featuring chef-driven recipes, an adult-leaning flavor profile that fit naturally into the neighborhood’s nightlife vibe.
Founded by pastry chef DJ Colby, the shop was renowned for its constantly rotating flavors, often offering 30 or more options at a time, alongside sorbets, vegan selections, and no-sugar-added choices. Many flavors were produced in small batches using all-natural ingredients, with weekly releases. Colby said in past interviews that he never planned to open an ice cream shop, landing on the concept only after realizing a traditional restaurant would not fit the available space.
Wilton Creamery built a reputation on flavors unavailable elsewhere. Standouts over the years included guava cream cheese, mandarin white tea, white truffled rum-soaked peach, and its most popular flavor, He’s Not Worth It – a house-made ice cream meant to replicate the flavor of a Snickers bar without using candy.
Beyond scoops, the menu included ice cream flights, oversized banana splits, ice cream nachos, shakes, and sundaes with house-made toppings. The shop also drew crowds for its extensive vegan and non-dairy options, often offering more than a dozen plant-based flavors at a time.
The team has shared that they are exploring a new location in Oakland Park or southern Pompano Beach
Why It Closed
In follow-up posts on Instagram, Colby addressed speculation about the closure, citing rising costs and personal factors rather than a single issue.
“I have had to cut several ice creams this year because of tariffs and inflation,” he wrote. “Cost of everything is through the roof. I would rather go away than decrease the product quality.”
He also noted that his husband, Rob, 72, plans to semi-retire, and that continuing the business elsewhere would likely require Colby to run it alone. While some followers suggested crowdfunding or boycotts, Colby stated that he would not pursue either option.
But not all is lost. In later updates on Instagram, the team shared that they are exploring a new location in Oakland Park or southern Pompano Beach and that equipment would be sold following the closure. No reopening timeline has been announced.
Wilton Creamery. 2301 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors. Now closed.