Bluffton gets SC’s first taste of Chill-N nitrogen-infused ice cream. Here’s how it works
The story of Bluffton’s newest ice cream joint began with a scene familiar to many: a hot, muggy evening in the Lowcountry. Fresh off a round of miniature golf, Derek Cohen’s family was searching for a frozen treat to help cool themselves down.
“We went to get ice cream after — that was around 7:30 — and everything was closed,” he said. “So that’s not great.”
Sensing a gap in the Hilton Head area’s tourist-heavy market, Cohen looked into franchising opportunities. That’s when he discovered Chill-N — a Miami-based company whose high-tech, sub-zero recipe is as enjoyable to witness as it is to eat.
Cohen is a Bluffton resident and retiring 20-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, beginning with basic training at Beaufort County’s very own Parris Island. With franchisee rights in the Hilton Head and Savannah markets, he plans to open five Chill-N locations in the long term, according to QSR Magazine.
The new location celebrated its grand opening June 15 in Bluffton’s Belfair Towne Village, bringing Chill-N’s signature liquid nitrogen-frozen ice cream to South Carolina for the first time. Here’s a look at how it works.
Bluffton’s unique ice cream experience
Any frozen creation at Chill-N starts with a base, available in classic ice cream, frozen yogurt, or tart ice cream varieties. After adding a couple of flavors — from mainstays like chocolate or vanilla to the fan-favorite Nutella — and any number of the store’s 20-plus mix-ins, the concoction gets mixed together.
Then comes the fun part. From a massive tank below the counter, liquid nitrogen is fed into the mixer, flash-freezing the contents at 320 degrees below zero. By the time the vapor clears about 45 seconds later, the liquid mix has been transformed into a smooth, rich consistency — “the creamiest ice cream you’ve ever had in your life,” Cohen says.
“Typical ice creams come from a manufacturer and are stored in a facility,” Cohen told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette during a sit-down at the new location on Thursday. “We don’t have to worry about preservatives or anything like that because ours is fresh-made right in front of you, so the ice crystals are a lot smaller than (traditional ice cream).”
For healthier options, Chill-N offers no-sugar-added ice cream or an Isopure protein powder add-in, ideal for a post-gym reward. By the end of June, the store plans to support a host of delivery options, including DoorDash, Grubhub and UberEats.
Even the summer heat is no match for Chill-N’s high-grade technology, which allows for culinary innovations just a step below Willy Wonka’s melt-proof ice cream. If a customer’s dessert gets a little too drippy, an employee can top it with a lid and place the cup in a special liquid nitrogen chamber to refreeze. Seconds later, it’s good as new.
Bluffton’s new Chill-N is the first to feature the brand’s newest prototypes, including a more efficient nitrogen system that makes it about 20% cheaper for franchisees to open a store of their own.
The best part? It’s open late — until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays — perfect for a cooldown after a day under the Hilton Head sun.
