Northeast Philly Love Note: Twistee Treat

Twistee Treat was built in the mid-90s. I watched it go up every day as my family drove north on Frankford Avenue from Wissinoming to Torresdale, hitting every red light en route to the pool that awaited us.

It was nothing when we first saw it. A parking lot at Longshore Avenue. Then it was an ice cream cone. Soon, an ice cream cone with windows. There were squeals from the backseat of the car the day the ice cream was added – a large twist of vanilla. It was chocolate the next day, then strawberry the following week. 

Things have changed around it since then – the mini golf course opened and closed. The gas station opened and closed. Twistee Treat is still pink and still selling ice cream. I don’t even know if they have strawberry soft serve, because I’ve only ever ordered one thing: chocolate softserve with rainbow jimmies. It’s what I ordered at Volpe’s, just down the avenue, at Rita’s, when it opened in my neighborhood, at Kohr Brothers on the boardwalk and from Mister Softee, whose prices remain the most reasonable, and who brings the cool summer treat to my door.

Pretzels, cheesesteaks, even water ice – they’re the foods associated with Philadelphia. I’ve eaten them young, old, drunk and sober over the years. But nothing defines a summer Philly night like a walk for ice cream.