The Family Behind This South Carolina Ice Cream Shop Bought It Back In 2026, And The Oversized Scoops Are Back

B.B. King loved this shop’s butter pecan so much that ice cream got delivered to him backstage.

The man who delivered those scoops, Dominic Anthony Munafo, is known as the Ice Cream King.

That alone would make me curious. Then you learn this little stand has been scooping since 1952 along the South Carolina coast.

It still has its red roof, walk-up windows, and picnic tables out front.

I can’t stop thinking about how close the story came to ending, though. The shop closed earlier in 2026 under different owners.

For a while, it even showed up as permanently closed online.

Then the family that ran it for decades bought it back. The king returned, the kitchen got a full makeover, and the homemade ice cream came back too.

Is there a sweeter comeback story out there?

Check The Hours Before An Evening Ice Cream Stop

Munafo credited B.B. King with the nickname in a 2026 interview.

In a 2022 interview, he credited Vanna White.

The blues great was a regular at Original Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream in North Myrtle Beach. His favorite was the butter pecan, and he loved it enough to want deliveries backstage.

Munafo handled those deliveries himself.

A music legend could have picked any treat in any town on tour. He kept coming back to this one stand on the South Carolina coast.

That story matters even more now. Munafo returned to run the shop in 2026 after his family bought it back, so the king is once again behind the counter.

Fans of the shop now have a good reason to order butter pecan at least once. Call it a tribute scoop.

You’ll be tasting the same flavor that won over one of the most famous guitar players in history, and that’s a fun thing to tell your friends afterward.

Eighty-Five Tubs In One Go Takes Serious Ice Cream Muscle

Here’s a number that should make your arms tired just reading it. Dominic Munafo has made as many as 85 tubs of ice cream in a single session.

During peak season, he keeps more than 180 buckets stocked in the freezer. Summer crowds at the beach can clearly chew through a lot of homemade goodness.

What impresses me most is how he describes the craft. He says making ice cream comes down to feel and instinct, not just following a recipe card.

He pays close attention to texture and taste with every batch. That hands-on approach is exactly what you’d hope for from a shop with homemade in its name.

The kitchen also got a full revamp when the Munafo family took the business back. So the old-school method now has fresh equipment to work with.

Munafo’s know-how runs deep, too. He spent more than 24 years working in his father James Mantzanas’s shop, making ice cream and getting to know customers.

That’s a long apprenticeship. When someone has practiced a skill that many summers, I believe the results show up right there in your cone.

Good Luck Picking Just One Flavor From This Lineup

Banana Pudding ice cream exists here, and honestly, that could end the conversation. But the menu keeps going, and your decision only gets harder.

Classic picks include Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Banana, and Pineapple. Then you hit Kiwi, Pistachio, Cookie Dough, Butter Pecan, and Heath Bar Crunch.

Kiwi in particular caught my eye. It’s not a flavor you spot at every ice cream counter, and it sounds perfect for a hot coastal afternoon.

The specialty flavors change often, so the board may look different from one trip to the next. That keeps things interesting if you’re in town for a week.

My advice? Bring someone who’s willing to share and order two different scoops.

Swapping bites is the smartest way to cover more ground.

Banana Pudding feels like a natural first choice in South Carolina. It takes a beloved Southern dessert and turns it into something you can eat on a cone.

Butter Pecan deserves a shout, too, given its famous fan. And if you lean classic, Vanilla is a fair test of any shop that makes its ice cream from scratch.

Vanna White Has A Banana Split With Her Name On It

Spin the wheel and you might land on the Vanna Banana Split. The sundae is named after Vanna White, who grew up right here in North Myrtle Beach.

She has publicly praised the shop, too. A hometown star with her own menu item is the kind of local pride I find impossible not to love.

Cones are great, but the sundae list deserves a real look. Options include Butterscotch, Vanilla-Banana, Turtle, and Brownie Sundaes.

Turtle fans know the deal with that one. Brownie lovers get a sundae built around their favorite baked treat, which feels like double dessert in one dish.

Shakes are also on the menu. That’s handy when you want something you can sip while strolling back to the car.

So how do you choose? I’d say sundaes work best when you have time to sit at the picnic tables and actually enjoy them.

A spoon and a little patience go a long way here. Grab extra napkins too, because ice cream and coastal heat are not exactly best friends.

Those Towering Cones Are Part Of The Legend

Cones piled high. That’s how the shop’s scoops have been described, and it sums up a big part of the appeal.

Portions here are known for being big. Single and double scoops are what keep folks coming back summer after summer.

A double sounds tempting, of course. Still, I’d think hard about it on a scorching afternoon, because melting happens fast near the beach.

Little kids may do better with a cup. You can always tuck a cone on top for fun without risking a drippy disaster down their arms.

Generous scoops also make sharing easier. Two people can split one order and still walk away happy, which is a nice trick for families.

Big portions fit the shop’s old-school personality. It feels like a throwback to a time when an ice cream stand simply wanted you to leave smiling.

If your group is ordering several cones, plan your seating first. Grab a picnic table before the scoops arrive so nobody is juggling melting ice cream in the parking lot.

Your shirt will thank you later.

That Red Roof Has Been Guiding Drivers For Generations

Some folks give directions using street names. Around here, plenty of people just say turn near the red roof.

The 1950s-era building has been preserved for more than 70 years. It now works as a local landmark for finding your way along the highway.

You’ll find it at 2408 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. It sits right on one of the main roads through the Grand Strand, so it’s easy to swing by.

The setup is wonderfully simple. You order at walk-up windows, and the service runs counter style like a classic ice cream parlor.

Outdoor picnic tables give you a place to settle with your treat. That open-air seating fits a beach town perfectly, especially on warm evenings.

I love that nobody turned this place into something sleek and modern. Keeping the original look protects a piece of South Carolina summer history.

A lot of roadside spots from the 1950s are long gone. This one still stands with its retro charm, ready for another generation to pull over for a cone.

Check The Wall Before You Order, Because Stars Have Stood Here

Eric Clapton ate ice cream here. So did members of Hootie and the Blowfish and Outkast, which makes for one wild playlist of customers.

The shop shows off these famous visits on its celebrity wall. Photos give you a fun reason to linger before you even pick a flavor.

Of course, B.B. King holds a special spot in the story.

His love for butter pecan turned into the shop’s most famous nickname.

Vanna White adds hometown sparkle to the lineup. She’s a North Myrtle Beach native, and her praise carries real local weight.

I think the mix of guests says a lot. Blues, rock, and hip-hop stars all ended up at the same humble ice cream window.

That’s the magic of a great scoop, really. Fame doesn’t matter much when everyone just wants something cold and sweet on a hot coastal night.

Kids especially might get a kick out of the wall. Point out a few faces, share the backstage butter pecan story, and watch your little one decide they’re ordering what the stars ordered.

The Family Came Back Just When Things Looked Grim

Late 2023 brought a big change for this beloved stand. The Munafo family sold the business after decades behind the counter.

Things didn’t go smoothly afterward. The new owner struggled to keep operations going, and the shop temporarily closed earlier in 2026.

At one point, Google Maps even listed it as permanently closed. For a place with a 74-year history, that was a gut punch.

Then came the plot twist. The Munafo family bought the business back, and Dominic Anthony Munafo confirmed his return on June 9, 2026.

Original Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream reopened in mid-June 2026. The kitchen was fully revamped, and the made-from-scratch ice cream is back on the menu.

The recipes trace back to the founders, Mr. and Mrs. Painter. Keeping those flavors alive was a big part of what made the return feel so meaningful.

I believe stories like this are worth celebrating. Plenty of family shops vanish quietly, but this one got a second chance and a familiar face at the window.

That’s a happy ending most towns would envy.

Late-Night Cravings Have A Home Until 11 PM

Restaurantji lists an 11 p.m. closing time, while Roadtrippers lists 9 p.m. Check with the shop before heading over for an evening scoop.

One quick tip can save you some confusion. A separate business with a similar name operates in Murrells Inlet, and it has no connection to this shop.

Make sure you’re heading to the North Myrtle Beach stand on Highway 17. That’s the one with the 74-year history and the Ice Cream King himself.

Evenings feel like a natural fit for this spot. The picnic tables and walk-up windows give the whole outing a relaxed, summer-night mood.

A lineup at the window can happen during busy beach season. Use the wait to study the flavor board so you’re ready when it’s your turn.

Visiting South Carolina without grabbing a cone here would feel like skipping a chapter of Grand Strand summer. Roll down the windows, follow the red roof, and save room for one more scoop.