Fentons Creamery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fentons Creamery |
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Oakland Fentons Creamery in 2006
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1894 |
| Food type | Ice cream, sandwiches, hamburgers, and salads |
| Street address | 4226 Piedmont Avenue |
| City | Oakland |
| County | Alameda County |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP code | 94611 |
| Country | United States |
| Other locations | Vacaville, California |
| Website | www.fentonscreamery.com |
Fentons Creamery is a super famous ice cream parlor and restaurant. You can find it on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, California, USA. Fentons is special because it's the oldest creamery in California that has been open non-stop for a very long time! They even used to have their own small group of dairy cows.
Contents
The Story of Fentons
How It Started
Fentons Creamery first opened its doors in 1894. A man named Eldridge Seth Fenton started the business. It was originally on the corner of 41st and Howe streets. In 1961, the shop moved a few blocks away to its current spot.
Creating New Flavors
In 1894, Eldridge Seth's grandson, Melvin Fenton, helped create some yummy ice cream flavors. These included the popular Rocky Road. He also came up with Swiss Milk Chocolate and Toasted Almond ice cream.
Rebuilding After a Fire
Sadly, Fentons was badly damaged by a fire in 2001. But don't worry, they spent over $2 million to rebuild it! The new Fentons had a grill for hot food. It also had more tables for customers. Plus, they added even more delicious items to their menu.
Fentons in the Movies
Fentons Creamery was featured in the 2009 animated movie Up! The movie's director, Pete Docter, and producer, Jonas Rivera, love Fentons. They often visit the shop. They decided to put Fentons in their movie. This happened after they thought about using a different ice cream shop.
The Rocky Road Story
Fentons also says it's the true birthplace of rocky road ice cream. A candy maker at Fentons, George Farren, made a rocky road candy bar. He then decided to mix it into ice cream. This idea inspired his friends, William Dreyer and Joseph Edy. They owned Dreyer's ice cream. They started making their own version. They used almonds instead of walnuts. However, Dreyer's still calls their product "The Original Rocky Road."
More Locations
In 2007, a second Fentons location opened. This new shop is in Vacaville, California. You can also find a Fentons shop at the Oakland International Airport. It's located in the food court there.
Fentons in the News
The "Cookie Bowl 50"
In February 2016, Fentons made a giant dessert! It was to celebrate Super Bowl 50. The Super Bowl was played nearby in Santa Clara. Fentons created the "Cookie Bowl 50." This huge sundae weighed 10 pounds! It had 12 scoops of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream. It also had big pieces of Oreo cookies. All of this was covered in hot fudge, pineapple, strawberry, marshmallow, and caramel toppings. Then came whipped cream, Oreo crumbles, and cherries. The best part? It was all served in a bowl made from Oreos!
A Generous Tip
In March 2021, Fentons Creamery was in the national news. A very kind customer left a huge tip for the staff. The tip was $1,000! Their order was only $63.31. On the receipt, the customer wrote "stay well" with a smiley face.
Amazing Awards
America's Top Dessert
Fentons' famous Banana Special was named the #1 Top Dessert in America! This award came from The Food Channel. The dessert starts with a ripe, split banana. It's then topped with three pounds of homemade vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream. Fresh strawberries and pineapples are added next. Finally, a gooey river of rich chocolate sauce finishes it off.
