Mr. K's Soft Ice Cream & Drive

If visitors and residents of the Queen City want a great burger or an amazing milkshake in a small “Mom & Pop” environment ripe with tradition, look no further than Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream. The local favorite has been serving up the same type of food for more than four decades — and nothing seems to be slowing them down.

The restaurant specializes in burgers made on a griddle, hot dogs with chili and slaw, large onion rings and 14 different types of homemade milkshakes. The prices for all food items are some of the lowest around town, but that doesn’t mean the quality suffers. The food is hot, fresh and greasy. Burgers and other sandwiches are $2.50 - $4, sides are $1.50 - $3 and milkshakes and sundaes are $2 - $4. Even though the diner serves up great food at very reasonable prices, the reason they have stayed in business for so long has more to do with the family atmosphere and traditions than anything else.

Mr. K’s opened in Charlotte in 1967 after the Karres family moved to the Queen City after living a decade in Chicago after emigrating from Greece. After running a dry cleaner in Chicago, Theodore Karres — the original Mr. K — tried his hand at serving ice cream from a small building on South Boulevard. That building was eventually replaced with the Mr. K’s that exists today, as Karres eventually added Hot Dogs and other favorites to the menu.

The restaurant has stayed with the Karres family to this day, and this family tradition has continued to make Mr. K’s a favorite for anyone in Charlotte.

HelloCharlotte Tip: Although the restaurant has not changed the menu or location in several decades, the owners have stayed up-to-date with social media as the diner has a Facebook fan page, Twitter page and YouTube videos to keep relationships strong with their clientele. Search for Mr. K’s Soft Ice Cream and you can keep up with the diner’s announcements and specials.

- by Mike D'Avria, Charlotte Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Mike D'Avria

Mike D'Avria graduated with a Journalism Degree from Indiana University in 2003.

He worked for the daily newspaper, The Athens Banner-Herald in Athens, Ga. before turning to freelance writing and video production.

Mike is the Executive Editor of CampLeadership.org, and has lived in Charlotte for four years.