A Missing Ice Cream Mascot Sparks Search

A bakery in Boston is on the hunt for its beloved mascot, a large plastic vanilla soft serve cone named Swirly, which has been missing since last fall.

Joanne Chan, one of the owners of Flower Bakery located on Boston Common, shared that the cone had been on display for about a month before it mysteriously vanished. “One day it just disappeared,” she remarked.

The pastry chef, who has received accolades—like the James Beard Award—initially suspected strong winds were to blame for Swirly’s disappearance. However, things took a turn when an employee thought they spotted the cone in a dormitory window at Emerson College, which is roughly a mile away. Chan now believes Swirly may have been stolen.

“She looked up and saw what we think is Swirly in the dorm,” Chan explained. It became a light-hearted concern for the bakery. In fact, to raise awareness, Chan even turned to social media, asking for Swirly’s safe return and asking the impromptu guardians of Swirly to refrain from further questions.

In her post, she humorously noted that Swirly was “longingly” gazing at home from the dorm window, and included a picture of the window adorned with similar-looking cones. Chan’s desire to see Swirly back is palpable, as she has offered a reward of baked goods and her heartfelt gratitude.

Chan expressed her hopefulness, stating, “Honestly, I think people are looking for feel-good stories, and this could have a very good ending.” A spokesperson from Emerson College added they couldn’t confirm if the object in the window really was Swirly, but they encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

Ultimately, many in the community are rooting for Swirly’s return, as its absence has left a noticeable gap at the bakery.