Wilmington’s beloved local ice cream shop, Boombalatti's Homemade Ice Cream, is going nationwide.

Wes and Kristen Bechtel have been serving up scoops since 2015, but earlier this month they have expanded their business to include pint shipping throughout the United States. Anyone can have access to the delicious ice cream, whether they're across the country or in Wilmington.

The Bechtels had already been considering adding a delivery service when customers began to ask for it.

The inspiration came from non-Wilmington residents. Families on summer vacation expressed their wish to have access to Boombalatti's ice cream year-round. After receiving many requests, the business decided to go for it in 2020, but The Forum location was undergoing a large renovation at the time. The owners opted to wait to launch shipping until the construction work was completed, which expanded the shop's space into the former Tama Tea next door. Now, both the store and the delivery service are up and running, along with a new website.

The Bechtels admit the delivery process can be stressful. Challenges include ensuring the ice cream stays frozen. Shipping food is difficult, even without considering the cold temperatures needed for ice cream delivery.

To combat this, Boombalatti's worked with Creature Theory to create pints and containers for shipping. The result: the Boom Box. Boom Boxes are designed to keep six pints cold. They are shipped in a styrofoam cooler with dry ice to ensure the ice cream stays cold for the entire journey.

The minimum per box is six pints and all orders are shipped on Tuesdays. Luckily, the Bethcels said this method has been successful, and shipments have already been sent out. Wes notes that “it has been super rewarding” to see the orders come in after all the hard work the business has put in. 

Boombalatti's currently offers 28 pints to choose from for delivery.

Customers can pick from pre-selected boxes or select their own favorites. Every flavor currently in stores will also be available for delivery. This includes classics such as chocolate, cookie dough, and double cookies and cream. In addition, there are more unique flavors including Boombalatti's signature cannoli, banana pudding, key lime pie, ginger peach, coffee and pistachio.

Boombalatti's also plans on adding its seasonal flavors for delivery, which are a fan-favorite for many customers. For those in need of a dairy-free alternative, there are currently four vegan flavors available to ship.