What Makes Dojo, Dojo
A dojo is traditionally a place where people show up every day to practice and master their craft. For us, that craft is making Italian-style ice creams from scratch in our Northside kitchen.
We roast, bake, and blend everything ourselves—from the gooey cake in our Gooey Buttercake gelato to the chocolate cookies in Milk-n-Cookies. Every batch is small-batch, carefully created, and tasted (more than once, if we’re honest) before it ever is scooped.
Since opening our first gelateria at historic Findlay Market in 2009, the mission has stayed simple: make the most distinctive, high-quality gelato and coffee we can, and serve it with genuine hospitality. Whether you find us at Findlay Market, in Northside, or at a truck or cart somewhere around the Tri-State, the goal is the same—make your day delicious, one scoop at a time.
Our Story
When Michael Christner moved to Cincinnati from Austin in 2006, he noticed something missing: a spot for real Italian-style gelato. So, he decided to create the place he had always wished existed.
In the summer of 2009, he opened the first Dojo Gelato at historic Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine—a tiny space, but big dreams, and a commitment to freshness and quality over quantity. That same spirit now exists in our Northside kitchen, our market café, our Northside scoop shop, and the roaming truck and carts you’ll see around town.
We’ve grown a bit since those early days, but we’ve stayed intentionally small and local so we can keep obsessing over the details: sourcing great ingredients, getting the texture just right, and taking care of the people on both sides of the counter.
About The Owner
Before opening Dojo Gelato, Michael went all-in on learning the craft the right way. He trained in traditional gelato-making techniques at Carpigiani in New York and studied at Penn State’s renowned Ice Cream Short Course at the Berkey Creamery.
You’ll still find him at Dojo—tweaking recipes in the Northside kitchen, dialing in espresso shots, or talking flavors with guests at the counter. Dojo is his long-time dream come to life: a neighborhood gelateria that feels welcoming and serves seriously good gelato.