Scoop by Scoop: Legacy Creamery Serves Gelato With a Purpose in Tullahoma

If you’re anywhere near Tullahoma on a Friday or Saturday, follow the sweet scent of gelato to Legacy Creamery. It’s tucked inside a historic Coca-Cola bottling building just off Wilson Avenue, and once you try it, you’ll probably find yourself planning your weekends around it.

Legacy Creamery isn’t just about frozen desserts, though the gelato is truly something special. It’s a family-run labor of love, powered by community, handcrafted ingredients, and a deeper purpose that reaches far beyond the creamery itself.

The Grow family opened Legacy Creamery in honor of their son, Eli Brock Grow, who passed away in 2016. Eli was just 15 years old. He was an honor student, the quarterback at Tullahoma High School, and the kind of person who made everyone feel seen. He was known for his dedication, his faith, and a smile that people still talk about today. Before his passing, Eli had a dream of helping student-athletes in his community gain access to better resources and opportunities. That dream lives on through the Eli Grow Legacy Foundation, which funds scholarships and mentorships for high school and college athletes. Every scoop of gelato sold at Legacy Creamery supports the foundation and carries Eli’s legacy forward.

What makes Legacy Creamery’s gelato so memorable is the way it’s made. This is small-batch gelato in the truest sense of the word. Each batch is mixed just two gallons at a time, and the ingredients are folded in by hand. They use milk from nearby family farms and create flavors that change all the time, depending on what’s fresh, what’s inspiring them, or what the community is craving. One week, you might find Brown Sugar Butter Pecan with real brown sugar and butter. The next, it’s Red Velvet with real cream cheese or Chocolate Jack with a touch of local Tennessee whiskey. The menu doesn’t follow a strict pattern, and that’s part of what keeps people coming back. It’s all made right there, in the creamery, and it’s all crafted with care.

The Grows also use the creamery as a space to give back in more ways than one. Local students, homeschool groups, and school classes often stop by to learn how gelato is made and even help with the process. It’s a sweet mix of education, creativity, and community involvement that makes Legacy Creamery feel more like a gathering place than just a dessert shop.

They’re only open two days a week, which makes each visit feel like a little event. You get your treat, maybe try a new flavor you’ve never seen before, and know that your purchase is supporting something much bigger than dessert. Legacy Creamery offers a reminder to live with purpose, love your people well, and like Eli always said, never take anything for granted.