Cold Rock Ice Creamery in Sydney’s southern coastal suburb, Cronulla, said it will be shutting its doors for good in April.

“After 22 years of serving our beautiful community we will be closing the doors for the last time next month,” the popular coastal ice creamery announced on Instagram.

“Make sure you come in and say goodbye and grab your favourite combination. If you would like to continue the legacy, please send a message.”

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Locals have been left shattered by the news, with a viral video from a former staff member racking up more than 10,000 views online.

Cronulla local Capri Maher, who spent years behind the counter, said in a video posted to social media that she was “devastated” to see her childhood hub shut.

“For most people around here, it’s probably just been that iconic ice-cream spot you’d go to after the beach, after dinner or on a summer night,” she shared.

“But for my family, it’s been a lot more than that. My uncle opened the store 22 years ago, and somehow it slowly became part of our family story.”

She said that it was her “first job”, and that she will always cherish her time working there.

“Every birthday, every celebration, every family get-together, there was always a Cold Rock cake involved somewhere along the way,” she said. “Over the years, thousands of people have come through the store for first dates, after-school hangs, late-night dessert runs and summer beach days ending with ice cream.

“It’s just always been part of Cronulla. Hearing that it’s closing really does feel like the end of a chapter.”

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@capri.maher 22 years of @Cold Rock Cronulla coming to an end 🥺 My first job, countless birthdays, and a lot of family memories. End of an era 🍦 #coldrock #coldrockcronulla #familybusiness #firstjob #icecreamcakes ♬ original sound – Ginanon ganon – _mimaw

Hundreds of ice-cream-lovers flooded the comment section to express their sadness.

“It’s been a big part of our lives,” one person shared, while another said: “I’m devastated! I love Cold Rock”.

Others reflected on the nostalgia of the store, saying they’d been coming since childhood.

“This has been here since I was a kid, so sad to see it go,” one person wrote.

“This place is so nostalgic, it reminds me of my childhood,” said another.

Some even pinned the closure down to the rising popularity of competitors like Yo-Chi and Messina.

“Yo-Chi took over. This is so sad,” one person wrote.

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Credit: @coldrockofficial

The sudden closure points to a massive shift in how Aussies are consuming their desserts, with the undeniable rise in popularity of frozen yoghurt and brands like Yo-Chi – which reported a staggering $53.7 million in revenue last financial year.

But Maher said many people have reached out after her video, which she said was a testament to how much it meant to so many people.

“Make sure to go grab a Cold Rock ice cream [before it closes], because little local places like that don’t just sell ice cream, they hold years of memories for a lot of people,” she said.

This article originally appeared on news.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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