Charlotte influencer QC Javi opens Mexican ice cream shop
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The Nutella "Legends" ice cream, topped with a horchata paleta ($15.99). Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
Legends Ice Cream and Snacks is a new authentic Mexican ice cream shop opening in east Charlotte this weekend.
Why it matters: Co-owner Javier Morales, aka "QC Javi" on Instagram, has made a career out of highlighting Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses in Charlotte. Now, he's got one of his own.
Driving the news: Legends Ice Cream will host its grand opening celebration at 2pm Saturday.
- It's located at 5708 N Sharon Amity Road and will open daily from 2-9pm.
The vibe: Decked out in Lucha Libre décor, including masks and a selfie wall, Legends puts a spotlight on Mexican professional wrestling culture.
- A lot of the ingredients, like the chips, candies and even the mangos, are imported from Mexico.
- The ice cream shop is over the top in the best way, with fun combinations of traditional Mexican flavors. The "Mango King," for example, is an entire mango shredded into noodles and topped with tajin and chamoy.
- Eventually, Morales wants to host events like watch parties for Charlotte FC games and morning coffee parties with DJs.
Dig in: Expect large ice cream cups topped with paletas and mini Nutella jars, esquites and Mexican street corn, aguas frescas, coffee, frappes and paletas that you can dip into chocolate and add toppings to.
Zoom in: Morales and co-owner Edwin Zelaya met at a Charlotte FC game in the supporters section.
- Morales, who has amassed more than 15,000 Instagram followers in the last five years, moved to Charlotte in 2000 from Guadalajara, Mexico. He started creating music content before "influencing was even a thing," he says. Now, he has partnerships with Charlotte FC, Compare Foods, and Tacos El Nevado, which earned a spot on our Best Restaurants list in 2024. "I'm a huge advocate for Latin Americans here in Charlotte
- Zelaya also owns an auto repair shop on North Tryon Street called Socios.
Zoom out: Legends originated in Greensboro in 2019. It expanded to Winston-Salem in 2022 and the Charlotte location marks its third spot.
Between the lines: Starting April 2, imports from Mexico will face 25% tariffs after a roughly month-long pause, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports.
- It's something Morales and Zelaya worry about since their shop relies on authentic Mexican treats. "We want the quality to stay at 100%," says Morales.
