I’ll own it: Off Track is my favorite ice cream shop in Charleston. The one place where I’ll wait in a sticky summer line with zero regrets. So hearing they’re opening a second location? That’s a full-body yes.
Off Track Ice Cream — the all-natural, small-batch spot at 6 Beaufain St. — is officially moving into 1054 E. Montague Ave. in Park Circle, the former Pink Crocodile gift shop. Owners Marc and Alissa Zera announced they’re aiming for a summer 2026 opening, according to reporting from Post & Courier.
A spreadsheet escape story worth savoring
Marc Zera didn’t start out dreaming of churns and mix-ins. As the Post & Courier notes, he was working “convertible bonds for a Japanese bank” in New York, spending his days buried in Excel. After one particularly soul-flattening day, Alissa suggested he find a hobby — something that didn’t involve formulas.
Ice cream won.
Soon he was at home mixing milk, cream, and “Cinnamon Toast Crunch and buttered popcorn” into a countertop Cuisinart (per Post & Courier). Not every flavor was a masterpiece, but the spark was unmistakable.
That spark followed them south.
The Charleston shift — and a cleaner philosophy
Once the Zeras relocated, they left the processed stuff behind. Literally. As Post & Courier reported, they decided the shop would avoid “the stabilizers or additives that are in most pints,” instead partnering with local purveyors to craft clean, natural flavors — traditional and vegan.
That clarity became Off Track’s backbone. And the nightly lines outside the Beaufain Street shop? They tell the story better than any tagline.
Why Park Circle is the right next chapter
Park Circle has quietly (and then loudly) become one of Charleston’s most exciting dining pockets. Breweries, restaurants, neighborhood energy — it’s all there. Off Track sliding onto East Montague just feels right.
The Zeras aren’t trying to reinvent what already works. They’re just bringing it to a new corner of the city — same ethos, same all-natural approach, same flavors that make even adults giddy.
And for those of us who already consider Off Track the pinnacle of Charleston ice cream? This is the kind of expansion that feels personal.
The bottom line
Park Circle is about to get its own Off Track — and if you know, you know. Keep an eye on @offtrackicecream for construction updates and opening details.
This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you’d like to read that article.
