Aglamesis Bro's facts for kids
| Private | |
| Founded | 1908 in Norwood, Ohio |
| Founders | Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis |
|
Number of locations
|
2 (2023) |
|
Area served
|
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Products | Ice cream, candy, and Milkshakes |
Aglamesis Brother's, often called Aglamesis, is a famous ice cream shop in Cincinnati, Ohio. It has two locations, one in Oakley and another in Montgomery. This sweet business was started by two brothers from Greece in 1908. Besides delicious ice cream, they also sell tasty milkshakes and a variety of candy. Today, the grandchildren of the original founder own and run the company.
Contents
The Story of Aglamesis: A Sweet History
The Aglamesis Brother's story began with two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis, who came to America from Greece. Thomas arrived in 1903 from his family farm near Sparta, Greece. His brother Nicholas joined him in 1905. They became part of a community of Greek people who had settled in downtown Cincinnati.
The brothers first worked at a candy shop called Coston's Confectionery. They saved their money to open their own sweet business.
In 1908, they opened their very first ice cream shop in Norwood, Ohio. They called it The Metropolitan. Then, in 1913, they opened another shop in nearby Oakley, Cincinnati. The building in Oakley was one of the first on Oakley Square, and the Aglamesis brothers actually built it themselves! They closed their first Norwood location in 1917.
During WWII, Aglamesis Bro's faced challenges because of sugar rationing. This meant they couldn't get as much sugar as they needed. However, after the war, their sales grew a lot! Until the 1950s, the Aglamesis family even lived above their Oakley ice cream parlor.
James Aglamesis, who was the son of founder Thomas Aglamesis, took over the business in 1952. Thomas passed away in 1961, and Nicholas had passed away earlier in 1950. In 1970, a second Aglamesis location opened in Montgomery, Ohio. Today, James's daughter, Dianne Lytle, handles the shops, marketing, and money. Her half-brother, Randal Young, takes care of making the ice cream and selling it to other businesses.
Many people today see Aglamesis Bro's as one of the few "old-fashioned" ice cream shops left in Cincinnati.
What Makes the Oakley Location Special?
The Oakley location of Aglamesis Bro's is like stepping back in time! It still has many features from when it first opened in 1913. You can see the original tile floor, which was laid by hand, and a beautiful tin ceiling.
Other original details include tables with marble tops, a classic candy counter, and an old-style soda fountain. The shop also has special Tiffany lamps that were bought in the 1920s. You can sit on traditional ice cream parlor chairs with wire backs shaped like hearts.
Why Aglamesis is Famous
Aglamesis Bro's has been recognized by many important publications and shows. In 2014, The New York Times called them one of the "precious few real ice cream parlors left." They mentioned Aglamesis alongside other famous shops like Fentons Creamery. The New York Times also wrote about the business three times in their travel section.
In 2008, Aglamesis Bro's was featured on Modern Marvels on the History Channel. Also in 2008, the Ohio Department of Agriculture noted that Aglamesis was the last ice cream shop in Ohio to make its ice cream completely from scratch!
The magazine Bon Appétit listed Aglamesis Bro's as one of the "last authentic ice cream parlors in the United States." Chocolatier magazine even called their ice cream one of the top 25 in the country. Taste of Home magazine included Aglamesis Bro's on its list of "America’s Best Soda Fountains from Coast to Coast."
Even famous people have visited! Al Gore stopped by for a photo during his 2000 presidential campaign. A Gibson Greetings birthday card once showed a boy and a girl enjoying sodas at Aglamesis Bro's.
In 2016, Aglamesis Bro's was part of an exhibit at the National Hellenic Museum. The exhibit, called "Sweet Home Chicago: The History of America’s Candy Capital," focused on candy culture. The museum added special sections about how Greek immigrants helped create many candy and ice cream shops in the United States. Besides Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis, the exhibit also featured other Greek immigrants like Leo Stefanos (who started the Dove chocolate brand) and Leonidas Kestekides (who founded the chocolate company Leonidas).
Sweet Treats: What They Sell
Besides their famous ice cream, Aglamesis Bro's has been making hand-dipped chocolates since 1908. In 2003, it was estimated that they used about 22,000 pounds (10,000 kg) of chocolate each year to make their candies!
Their most popular candy is the opera cream. This treat has a creamy center made of cream, butter, and sugar, all covered in dark chocolate. In 1997, The Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper named their opera creams the best in Cincinnati.
In 1990, James Aglamesis estimated that they made about 400 US gallons (1,500 L) of ice cream every week during the summer!
According to food writer Daniel Neman, who used to live in Cincinnati, many people in Cincinnati believe that Aglamesis Bro's actually has the best-tasting ice cream, even when compared to larger local chains like Graeter's.
Where to Find Them
As of 2019, Aglamesis Bro's has two locations where you can enjoy their treats. One is on Oakley Square, and the other is in the Montgomery Square Shopping Centre.
