Cool Mix: Flagship Cold Stone Creamery Serves up Dynamic Klipsch Sound
By Sarah Knight
New York City tourists and Manhattanites alike can find refreshing relief from sweltering summer temperatures with a cool treat from the Cold Stone Creamery® in Times Square. And while indulging in tasty ice cream concoctions, store patrons can also chill out to the cool tunes delivered by high-performance Klipsch loudspeakers.
Cold Stone Creamery, the fastest growing super-premium ice cream franchise in the nation, invites customers to design their own frozen delights by selecting one of the many ice cream or yogurt flavors that are made fresh daily and adding "mix-ins" of fruit, candy, nuts, syrups and other ingredients. These "personalized" creations are then combined on a slab of frozen granite or "cold stone" that is constantly kept at 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
In June 2003, the company reached a major milestone when it opened its flagship, company-owned Times Square location on the popular E Walk® at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. As New York City's first Cold Stone Creamery and the company's largest store to date, this facility employs over 100 workers and utilizes high-performance Klipsch loudspeakers throughout.
The 1,250-square-foot store was specifically designed to accommodate the high-traffic area. It features six Italian-made Oscar Tiali Ghea display cases full of ice cream, yogurt and Italian sorbet and four signature granite stones.
For Cold Stone, it's not just about making the best tasting ice cream. It's also about creating fun and immersive experiences for its customers through quality service, enthusiastic employees who will sing for tips and Klipsch loudspeakers that help create this type of environment.
In order to fill this entire facility with high-energy, contemporary music, Cold Stone relies on seven Klipsch IC-5T in-ceiling loudspeakers. Each of these two-way products feature a 30-watt 70/100 volt multi-tap transformer and swiveling Tractrix® Horn with aluminum dome compression driver, allowing installers to direct the sound to specific areas more accurately than fixed tweeter designs.
Muzak, the innovative music subscription company and Klipsch business partner, designed the sound system at this flavorful location and recommended that Cold Stone use Klipsch loudspeakers to entertain customers as they enjoy their made-to-order sweet treats.
According to Liz Bordessa, national account executive for Muzak, Cold Stone Creamery wanted speakers that could deliver dynamic sound without being too overwhelming. Klipsch was the obvious solution.
"Klipsch has a proven track record when it comes to high-performance commercial audio," Bordessa said. "Muzak has used Klipsch on a number of high-profile installations so I was confident its loudspeakers would be the best choice for this Cold Stone Creamery."
"Entertainment plays a large role in creating the ultimate ice cream experience," said Ron Perry, director of northeast operations for Cold Stone Creamery. "The Klipsch speakers we use in the Times Square location enhance the fun, friendly atmosphere for our guests by providing state-of-the-art audio."
This is not the first or last Cold Stone Creamery to utilize Klipsch loudspeakers. In fact, approximately 200 locations currently feature Klipsch products. With more than 600 stores from coast to coast, this Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plans to churn out at least 450 more by December 2004. That's quite a leap for a business that only had five stores and one franchise less than 10 years ago. Entrepreneur magazine ranked Cold Stone Creamery 25th in its February 2004 list of "101 Fastest Growing Franchises."
Whether you are trying to beat the heat or have a hankering for something sweet, Cold Stone Creamery is sure to satisfy your taste buds with its countless number of mix-in combinations and original Creations that include Breathless Boston Cream Pie™, Mud Pie Mojo™ and Nights in White Chocolate™. And if you're ever in Times Square, stop in for a cool experience not to be missed, just look for the large marquee sign flanked by 10-foot-tall lighted ice cream cones.