New Ice Cream Shop on St. Pete Beach Offers Low-Calorie Options

Low calories and ice cream may not seem to logically fit in the same sentence, but a new ice cream and coffee shop on St. Pete Beach serves low-calorie ice cream, non-fat yogurt and other healthy food products. The ice cream is only 50 calories per serving.

D'Lites Emporium opened at the busy intersection of Gulf Winds Drive and Gulf Boulevard in December. The shop, with its cheery pink and aqua colors, is in the heart of St. Pete Beach's resort area.

"In addition to our ice cream, we have products geared to a healthier lifestyle, sorbet, frozen yogurt and we have a full service coffee bar," said co-owner Cass Thompson.

People can "go and get a treat (at D'Lites) and not feel deprived and are more apt to stay on their diet," Thompson said.

The soft-serve ice cream, made from skim milk, has a chocolate or vanilla base with more than 100 flavors. Recent flavors available in St. Pete Beach include white chocolate macadamia, honey roasted pecan, mocha, creamsicle, wild cherry and almond joy. 

The first D'Lites Emporium opened in Plantation in 1982. Cass and Ed Thompson learned about the D'Lites franchise through their daughter-in-law, Beth, who ended up opening a store in South Tampa.

The St. Pete Beach location is Cass and Ed Thompson's second D'Lites Emporium; they also have a store in Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg. The St. Pete Beach location has a line of low-calorie products such as drink mixes, peanut butter and noodles and a full-service coffee bar. The store serves breakfast, too.

"We decided since there is not a Starbucks on the beach that we would offer coffee, protein smoothies, and everything from espressos to frappes," Cass Thompson said.

Future plans for the St. Pete Beach location include possibly adding a party room and a patio area, Cass Thompson said.

If you go:

• 5955 Gulf Winds Dr., St. Pete Beach
• Monday- Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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