Coney’s & Swirls in Hillsdale.
Cal Abbo | Collegian

Hillsdale restaurant and ice cream parlor Coney’s and Swirls has closed permanently after 23 years of business. 

Coney’s and Swirls, located at 44 E. Bacon St., shut down earlier this summer when real estate agent Darin Spieth purchased the business and auctioned the ice cream equipment to Ethan’s Donut Factory, anticipating leasing the building to another business, Spieth said. 

Pet groomer Emma Faust opened The Groovy Groomer in place of Coney’s and Swirls, Spieth said.  

“It’s a great location, and I think it’s going to be perfect for her,” Spieth said. “It’s just a nice little way to bring in a new business.” 

The local ice cream spot opened seasonally from March through October, serving American fare and a variety of frozen desserts. 

Hillsdale resident and part-time student Maggie O’Connor said she would go to the ice cream parlor “all the time” growing up. 

“I get very nostalgic thinking of Coney’s and Swirls,” she said. “I think it was definitely a staple for the children of Hillsdale because it was right there in a great position between all these neighborhoods. It was very hopping.”

O’Connor said she and her siblings walked to Coney’s and Swirls after school events before they were able to drive. 

“My favorite memory is my favorite thing there, which was the peanut butter slide,” O’Connor said. “It was like five bucks or something, but it was massive, and it was basically vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, fudge, and peanuts. It was huge, and it was so bad for you, but I got it every single time.” 

Hillsdale College senior Meredith VanDerWeide said she used to frequent Coney’s and Swirls while she attended high school at Hillsdale Academy. 

“Coney’s and Swirls was always the ice cream place open when we needed it,” she said. “My fondest memories at Coney’s and Swirls are after track meets getting ice cream with the whole team, or going there with friends during the summer after walking around downtown.” 

Wayne Babcock, owner of Ethan’s Donut Factory, said he recalls when the ice cream parlor was a Dairy Queen before changing hands. 

“It was a landmark for many, many years,” he said. “I remember when the line was around the block for Dairy Queen.” 

With the additional ice cream equipment, Ethan’s Donut Factory is serving more varieties of ice cream, including flurries, and hand-dipped ice cream, Spieth said. 

“It’ll be a one-stop sweet shop,” Spieth said.

Hillsdale resident Olivia Tritchka-Stuchell said she went to Coney’s and Swirls often growing up. 

“I loved going to Coney’s and Swirls as a kid. I would go with my friends and also with my family. It’s definitely a core memory of mine,” Tritchka-Stuchell said. “I am sad that Coney’s and Swirls is closed because I wish everyone had the opportunity to have their great ice cream.”

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