How to Design an Ice Cream Shop Floor Plan, Layout and Blueprint

An ice-cream shop's layout plays an important role in the guest experience. As you move through your journey to open an ice-cream shop, one of your first projects will be to design a floor plan. Ice cream shops oftentimes have small footprints and fewer square-footage to work with. Your floor-plan should make it easy for guests to order, pay, and then relax while enjoying their treats.

But what’s the best way to begin mapping out your ice cream shop floor plan? This guide will help you design blueprints that will set your shop up for success. Read on for all the key tips.

Key Takeaways

• Importance of Layout for Efficiency and Profitability: The right layout and spacing can be ideal for service efficiency and effectiveness in employee service. 

• Impact on Employee Workflow and Guest Experience: A floor plan can elevate the employee workflow in an ice cream store and be inviting for guests, creating a pleasant experience.

• Permit Requirements for New Ice Cream Stores: Permit requirements need to be considered when creating layouts for new ice cream stores.

What Is An Ice Cream Shop Floor Plan?

The restaurant floor plans and blueprints of your ice cream shop are a map of every inch of the space, both indoors and outdoors. Ultimately, an ice cream shop floor plan lets you visualize how all the spaces of your shop fit and flow together in a natural way. 

We’ve started the research, but you might want to bring your creativity to the design process and balance your vision with the accessibility requirements of guests and employees. How your guests and employees navigate and use the space in your ice cream parlor is just as important as aesthetics.

An ice cream shop floor plan should include:

• Prep areas

• The kitchen

• Tables and chairs

• The entrance

• The ordering counter

• Waiting areas

• Seating areas

• The outdoor seating capacity

• Staff areas, offices, and break rooms

• Your ice cream shop’s POS system and cashier stations

• Restrooms

• Dish area(s)

• Doors

• Windows

• Emergency Exits

• Square footage

• Accurate measurements of the space

How to Create an Ice Cream Shop Blueprint and Floor Plan

You’ve got a couple of options if you need to create an ice cream shop floor plan, including using software or enlisting the support of an interior design studio. Here’s more details about these options.

Floor Plan Software Options

Don’t worry if you aren’t an artist, architect, or designer. The good news is that software makes designing your ice cream shop’s floor plan simple. SmartDraw, ConceptDraw, or CadPro are all reliable software programs that can create a custom blueprint for your shop.

• SmartDraw: This tool is ideal for handling the diagramming process, so using SmartDraw is ideal. This tool offers predefined templates and customizable design options, which are ideal for creating your own ice cream parlor floor plan by focusing on each zone and required element.

• ConceptDraw: From basic floor plans to more complex ones, the range of blueprints you can create with ConceptDraw is vast. The tool can help you create your ice cream shop floor plan design with advanced and intuitive diagramming software.

• CadPro: If you need to create an ice cream parlor floor plan design, you may use CadPro. This is a leading floor plan design software with a user-friendly interface. You can use this solution to create accurate, easily navigable commercial floor plans.

Interior Design Studio

If you hire an interior design studio, the team will work with you to develop a focused aesthetic and bring your dream ice cream shop design to life.

No matter which option you choose, make sure that you go into the interior design process with an idea of how you want your ice cream shop to function. Where will the kitchen be? The dining area? Where will guests enter and place orders when you sell ice cream or creamy frozen yogurt to them? 

As you answer these questions, double-check that your proposed layout allows guests to navigate your space successfully before and after you serve ice cream.

Best Practices for Designing Your Ice Cream Shop Floor Plan

Perfecting the design process can seem challenging, but tips can aid you. Some of the best practices for designing your ice cream shop floor plan layout with software tools include the following tips:

1. Waiting Space Allocation: Factor in customer flow when handling the waiting space allocation. You’ll be able to do this by focusing on how customers will enter the space, then make their order, and finally how they exit. Consider the size of the wait area by analyzing your potential peak times - and don’t forget to include ample space in the layout for your guests while they wait in line to purchase or pick up delicious ice cream or frozen yogurt orders.

2. Design Accessible Spaces and Staff Break Areas for the ice cream parlor with your customers in mind. Consider both your guests’ and employees' needs such as comfortable seating (and where to place it), the placement of storage solutions such as lockers, and the décor. Don’t forget to factor in local building codes when making the spaces accessible.

3. Create an Intuitive Flow of Service so that customers are not confused by how your ice cream shop functions. Doing this will involve thinking about the positioning of the entrance and how it leads to the prominently placed ordering station, as well as incorporating a kitchen display system to manage the orders efficiently. It’ll also include considering line management and minimizing congestion by utilizing the correct space allocation for barriers.

4. Factor in Where Your Employees Will Work: This includes identifying where point of sale (POS) systems will exist to efficiently conduct transactions and communicate with the kitchen. More information on this can be found below.

5. Consider How the Floor Plan and Inclusive Seating Work with the theme, the seating area plan, and the ambiance of your ice cream shop to attract customers. For instance, you might want to include family-friendly zones with inviting lighting or ensure the areas are easily accessible for individuals with disabilities or those who use wheelchairs.

Ice Cream Shop Floor Plan: Key Area Sections

When creating your ice cream shop floor plan, you’ll need to focus on a few key area sections. Here, we’ll look at the important main sections and which elements you’ll need to consider.

Ice Cream Shop Kitchen Floor Plan

The kitchen of an ice cream shop likely doesn’t have to be very big, but it’s still a primary consideration in your floor plans. It’s where you’ll create all kinds of delicious ice cream in crunchy cones, sundaes, milkshakes, drinks, sorbet, soft-serve treats with delectable flavors and toppings… and gelato, after all! It’ll require the following considerations

• Inventory Management: It’s worth incorporating and allocating a space where your staff can complete inventory checks. Measure a small space in the ice cream parlor for this process and include it in the design. For instance, you may place this near the storage area.

• Storage Areas: If you have limited space in your ice cream store, think wisely about optimizing it and storing all of the ingredients and supplies. Factor in all the specific areas—and don’t forget that they’ll include dry ingredients, toppings, and freezer space! Try to measure and allocate these areas to the plan.

• Prep Space: When the layout is too cramped for employees to work efficiently, and when there’s not enough space in a small shop, everyone suffers. Make the most of your ice cream shop’s kitchen space, leaving ample room for large ice cream machines, equipment, and shelves. Measuring prep space and counter space, considering kitchen workflow needs, and sketching and designing the layout on software tools for design layouts will be critical for your employees to have the ideal space and create new flavors (beyond chocolate and vanilla!).

• Dishwashing: You’ll need an area for dishwashing, and you’ll need to incorporate this into your plan. This will require taking measurements, such as for a three-compartment sink, and making sure it’s easy to access with the right amount of space around it—particularly a drying space.

The Waiting Area Floor Plan

You’ll need to design an ordering counter that optimizes the space in your ice cream shop while providing guests with an enticing view of the treats you make. This will require thinking about the waiting area floor plan and the following elements to keep guests comfortable.

• Waiting Area: Create lots of space for guests to wait so that no one is crowded in or left out. The space may be located near the POS location, which requires you to measure the waiting and POS areas, determine the available space, and consider how these will feature in your layout. For instance, the POS area may be toward the back of the ice cream parlor, with the waiting area between the seating and the POS location.

• Guest Comfort Elements: You’ll need to ensure the waiting area is comfortable, so allow sufficient space here and really think about your space allocation. For instance, you may want a soft seating area or even a small play area for young kids, which you should measure and incorporate into the design.

Seating Area Floor Plan

The seating area in your ice-cream shop should have a consistent aesthetic and be accessible to all guests. Even in the tightest ice cream shop spaces, it’s good to provide comfortable furniture and plushy chairs for guests to sit down to enjoy their treats. And the space should integrate well with the waiting area to avoid overcrowding in the ice cream shop. Consider the following tips:

• Seating Capacity: Your seating capacity will really depend on the amount of space you can accommodate. So, with the measurements of the space and measurements of the tables and chairs, you can optimize the seating layout accordingly. Don’t forget to think about the spacing between tables, which should be approximately 42 - 60 inches for square tables and 24 - 30 inches for diagonal tables. The example below shows a good layout with each table spaced equidistantly, allowing for sufficient space between each one.

• Service Efficiency: Consider how to optimize the service efficiency by thinking about the amount of space required to handle transactions. This might include creating a pickup area in the layout of the design. For instance, you might place this next to the POS zone near the front of the ice cream parlor.

The Restrooms Floor Plan

Believe it or not, restrooms are a deciding factor in many people’s choice of ice cream shops and restaurants, according to a study by Stockton University. It means you should prioritize these areas and think about the factors below when designing the layout.

• Accessibility Requirements: Designing restrooms that are big enough for all guests and easy to locate will create an attractive edge to your shop. Inclusivity is crucial here, ensuring every guest is accommodated, so make sure you plan for the ideal door width (32 inches minimum), include grab bars, and pathways that are wide enough for wheelchairs.

• Location Requirements: You’ll want to ensure guests don’t need to move through staff areas to reach the restroom, as this can disrupt service. Allocating a separate space, like an unobstructed hallway, for customers to navigate through is ideal for this.

Staff Area / Back Room Floor Plan

Your staff quarters are a key part of the design, allowing employees to take breaks and acknowledge work schedules or check notices. When you’re planning this area in the layout, you’ll need to make it easy to navigate and think about the following factors:

• Break Area: Include staff areas (like offices and break rooms) when you create your floor plans, leaving space for managers to complete administrative tasks and for all of your staff to relax on breaks. You might also consider making this a multifunctional space that includes a table where staff can eat or have pre-shift meetings within the break area. For this, you’ll want to think about the overall layout of the quarters and divide this space into two or three zones.

• Schedule Posting Area: A cork-board or magnetic wipe-board can act as a great place to post company announcements or the staff schedule. You can print out the weekly schedule from your scheduling software of choice, as well as any upcoming promotions or flavor launches your staff should be aware of.

Payment Station & POS System Floor Plan

The POS is an essential part of the ordering flow at your restaurant. It should keep track of inventory, sales, and more for your ice cream store. Place it in a strategic central location so it's easy for staff to access, and so that guests naturally head there when it's time to pay. Consider adding self-ordering kiosks, which allow guests to select and pay all on their own. 

Terminals should also have sufficient space between them, so consider the overall space in the floor plan, factor in the space between each terminal, and incorporate them into the floor plan.

Outdoor Areas Floor Plan

If you have the luxury of outdoor space, maximize it when creating the ice cream shop floor plan. You’ll want to plan your outdoor space carefully so that it’s easily accessible to both guests and employees. Let’s take a look at how you can do this.

• Patio Placement: A nice patio can attract a different niche of customers to your ice cream shop and drive additional sales and profits. You’ll need to consider table placements on the patio in your floor plan. You’ll need to think about the spacing between each table as well, which should be approximately 42 - 60 inches for square tables and 24 - 30 inches for diagonal ones. The example below is a good design that shows the strategic placement of each table and maximizes the space while respecting the distance between customers.

• Service Efficiency: You’ll want to make the outdoor patio space an asset to your business, not a burden. So, if possible, try ensuring the outdoor areas are easy to access when creating the ice cream shop floor plan. Doing so will help optimize the service process and make it easier for customers to navigate your ice cream parlor when carrying delicious sweet treats!

Entrance Floor Plan

The entrance to your ice cream shop is the first impression customers get, and it is likely where your customers will spend the most time interacting with your staff. To design this space in the floor plan, take the following actions.

• Exterior Design: You want to create a space with a welcoming and memorable style, but it also needs to be functional. So, prioritize the path to the ordering counter and leave lots of space for people to navigate the shop. Place the ordering counter near the entrance or use signs or creative architectural elements to guide customers through the space. 

• Visual Appeal and Brand Elements: You’ll also want to decide on other elements in the exterior design, such as the visual appeal of your brand elements and the style of service you’re cultivating.

Emergency Exits Floor Plan

Like all public buildings, ice cream shops must have a fire and emergency floor plan. Once your floor plan is completed, communicate the ice cream store routes to your staff and mark external exits for customers. We recommend the following tips for creating this part of the floor plan:

• Egress Paths: Incorporating egress paths really will require identifying the exits and allocating appropriate, entirely clear spaces. Design software can help you adequately map out emergency exit routes, ensuring elements such as furniture do not obstruct these paths. 

• Safety Compliance: To ensure the plan complies with safety regulations, you’ll need at least two emergency egress paths and exits. In the floor plan, ensure the exits are not next to each other—in fact, they’ll need to be far away from each other in case one is blocked.

Accessibility in Ice Cream Shop Floor Plans

States and municipalities have building codes that public buildings must adhere to. Complying with building codes guarantees that your ice cream shop is accessible to all guests. But, as architect Justin Alpert says, adhering to building codes is the bare minimum – think about how you might design a space that works for everyone, not just “the average customer.”

Employing the principles of human-centered design results in beautiful, usable ice cream shop spaces and leads to more customer engagement. As you start designing your ice cream parlor, it’s important to think about all customers. For instance, disabled customers may require ramp access to the shop.

How to Choose an Ice Cream Shop Floor Plan

As mentioned, planning is a fundamental step in creating an ice cream shop design, ensuring you deliver a world-class and accessible guest experience, whether you’re working with designers or doing it yourself. This requires thinking about the guest space:

Available Space

Consider the restaurant construction industry standard for space to get an idea of your ice cream store floor plans. According to Total Food Service, it’s a 60/40 model – 60% of the space is used for guests and seating, and 40% is used for prep, the coffee bar, and the kitchen.

Social Distancing Capability

Another critical step is calculating the maximum occupancy of your space depending on local building codes. These will vary by the type and location of the building, but we suggest the following capacity per guest in these types of restaurants (local COVID guidelines may further restrict these calculations:)

• Full-Service Restaurant Dining: 12-15 square feet

• Counter Service: 18-20 square feet

• Fast Food: 11-14 square feet

However, the model might look a little different in a small business like an ice cream shop. A 1200-square-foot ice cream shop would reserve about 720 square feet of space for guests, and the capacity for a counter service shop would be 40 customers. Each guest would have approximately 18 square feet of space.

Space Allocation Priorities

Offering guests more space is usually a good idea, making the ice cream parlor functional. Spacing tables further apart and creating wide lanes for traffic is a great way to make your ice cream shop accessible to people with disabilities. 

Plus, a study by Universiti Teknologi MARA published in the International Journal of Academic Research found that in an eatery where adequate space is required to move around, the spatial layout of the surroundings would be extremely important to customers.

Permit Requirements

It’ll also be important to work with city, county, and state officials for all the proper permits for building and blueprints. If possible, maintain good working relationships with the employees in the permit office – they’ll be sure that your blueprints and any changes get approved on time.

Map It Out and Change It Up

With our tools and the tips in this article, you’ll now be able to complete your ice cream store’s layout. Remember— ensure you talk to your customers to learn what they like best during regular evaluation. Then, it’s just a case of tweaking the design and optimizing it to perfect the floor plan for your new ice cream parlor.

Check out Benchmarking by Toast to gain valuable sales and revenue insights to power your ice cream shop. Having the right floor plan is key to driving the most foot-traffic possible during business hours. 

FAQs

How Much Space Do You Need for an Ice Cream Shop?

This tends to vary and depends on your unique and specific business plan and business model. Generally, you’ll need 80 square feet for a small ice cream shop. But if your services include counter service and guest space, they’ll need around 1200 square feet.

How to Make Your Ice Cream Shop Stand Out?

This requires you to consider the display and serving area, ensuring it’s well organized and enticing. It also includes thinking about the lighting to create the perfect ambiance. A welcoming atmosphere will invite customers in, so the layout you create is fundamental to your success. 

Related Ice Cream Resources

• Ice Cream Shop Name Ideas

• Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

• How to Open an Ice Cream Shop

• Ice Cream Shop Ideas and Concepts

• Ice Cream Shop Menu Ideas

• Ice Cream Shop Licenses and Permits

• Ice Cream Shop Design Ideas

• Ice Cream Shop Supplies