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California Ice Cream Stands

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Original Orange Freeze Stand
Sacramento, CA
2008: 2014:
The Original Orange Freeze Stand opened in 1946. In addition to their sherbet-like freezes, the stand added hot dogs and other items over the years. The stand closed in 2000. Since 2013, the building has housed the Sacto Chicken Co. By 2016, it was housing Soleil Cuisine. Since 2018, the building appears to be vacant. For more, see this website. [map]

Gunther's Ice Cream
Sacramento, CA
Gunther's Ice Cream has been producing ice cream since 1940. The store moved to this location which was designed by Koblik & Fisher in 1949. The animated neon sign was designed by Samuel J. Stover who worked for EPCO (Electrical Products Corporation). The sign is just over 12 feet wide and was built for $500. "Jugglin' Joe" tosses a scoop of ice cream through the air and onto a cone in his other hand. The "ICE CREAM" text panel was installed at the same time. The sign was restored around 2000 by the Pacific Neon Company. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Vic's Ice Cream
Sacramento, CA
Vic's Ice Cream opened in 1947 and is still in operation. For more, see this website. [map]

Swensen's
San Francisco, CA

2017:
2022:
This Swensen's ice cream shop opened in 1948 and this sign was installed then. This was the company's first location and ice cream is still produced on-site. By 1964, there were more than 400 locations nationwide. By the 1980s, there were only about half of that. As of last year, this was the only location still operating with the Swensen's name in the U.S. However, there are about 300 stores in other countries, mostly in Asia. These photos are from 2017. The neon on the sign was restored in 2021 by Neon Works. In 2022, the company also removed the paint from the panels, revealing the original, red porcelain underneath. The red neon skeleton sign in the window is believed to also be from 1948. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store & Grill
Palo Alto, CA
The Peninsula Creamery began producing dairy products in 1922. The company opened a soda fountain around 1936. That location now houses the Palo Alto Creamery. In 1985, the Peninsula Creamery shut down the milk bottle plant. However, the company's on-site dairy store operates now as the Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store & Grill. For more, see this website. [map]

Marianne's Ice Cream
Santa Cruz, CA		 Loard's Ice Cream
Oakland, CA
Marianne's Ice Cream opened in 1958. There are more than 70 flavors of homemade ice cream. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Loard's Ice Cream opened here in 1950. There are now about a dozen locations. Loard's Ice Cream is also sold in many supermarkets in the Bay Area. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Dad's Original Frozen Banana
Newport Beach, CA
Dad's Original Frozen Banana opened in 1960. Just three doors away, is the Original Frozen Banana which opened in 1945. For more, see this website. [map]

More California:
Yum Yum Frosty Freeze (Upland) [vintage; gone]

CA Misc.
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