Virginia is famously for lovers, and not just the romantic kind. On one hand, the Old Dominion State is a popular destination for history lovers who want to take a storied road trip between some of early America’s most notable sites. On the other, Virginia is also for food lovers — with an eclectic culinary culture that ranges from buzz-worthy restaurants situated along the bustling D.C. border to award-winning taverns nestled in the highlands of the Blue Ridge Mountains. That said, for those who like their meals dished out with a side of delicious history, it’s worth heading down to Norfolk, Virginia, to visit Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue, a family-run restaurant famous for serving the world’s first waffle cone.
Currently situated in the heart of the historic Ghent neighborhood, the story of Doumar’s spans more than a century — and the retro feel of the restaurant itself keeps that history alive. “An amazing blast from the past that always has good food and cool old cars to enjoy,” reads a five-star Google review.
The origins of this drive-in style restaurant can be traced back to 1904, when traveling salesman Abe Doumar was selling paperweights at the St. Louis World’s Fair. After noticing that a nearby ice cream stand had run out of paper cups, Doumar purchased a thin waffle from a nearby dessert vendor, rolled it into a cone, and used it as a vehicle for his ice cream. After talking the other salesmen into a collaboration, the three became business partners and the world-famous waffle cone was born.
Enjoy fresh waffle cones at Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue in Norfolk
After the St. Louis World’s Fair, Doumar got to work designing an upgraded waffle iron that was capable of cooking four waffles at a time. This innovative machine, still in use at the Norfolk restaurant today, allowed him to open his first ice cream stand in Coney Island in 1905. Eventually, Doumar — a Syrian immigrant — sponsored one of his 15 siblings to come take over the stand. With this help, he was able to replicate his business at resorts he had visited as a traveling salesman down the East Coast, establishing Doumar’s ice cream stands — and bringing over family members to run them — from New York to Florida…