Gunther's Ice Cream facts for kids
Gunther's Ice Cream is a famous ice cream shop in Sacramento, California. It is located at 2801 Franklin Blvd. This popular spot first opened its doors in 1940.
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The Story of Gunther's Ice Cream
How Gunther's Started
Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife, Iva, started Gunther's Ice Cream in 1940. They made their own ice cream right there in the shop. They even created new special flavors every month!
The first Gunther's shop was at Franklin Boulevard and 5th Avenue in Sacramento. In 1949, they moved to their current spot at 2801 Franklin Blvd. The building itself is special. It shows a mix of old and new building styles from the time after World War II.
Meet Jugglin' Joe
Gunther's has a fun mascot named Jugglin' Joe. He is a cartoon character who looks like a "soda jerk" (someone who used to serve sodas and ice cream). Jugglin' Joe is shown tossing a scoop of ice cream. You can see him on a bright, animated neon sign right on top of the shop!
New Owners Over the Years
Herman Gunther passed away in 1963. His son, Dick Gunther, passed away in 1967. After that, Iva Gunther decided to sell the business in the same year. Carl Buchell bought the shop.
Since 1974, Rick and Marlena Klopp have owned Gunther's. Rick had worked at the shop since 1969, when he was 22 years old.
Big Celebrations and Awards
In 2010, Gunther's celebrated its 70th birthday! The mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson, even came to the party.
Five years later, in 2015, Business Insider magazine said Gunther's was the best ice cream shop in all of California! That same year, Gunther's celebrated its 75th anniversary. Many important people attended, including Mayor Kevin Johnson. Dinger, the mascot for the Sacramento River Cats baseball team, was also there for the fun.
In 2018, Gunther's was nominated to become a historical landmark. This means it is recognized as an important place with a lot of history.
Gunther's in Movies
Gunther's Ice Cream has even appeared in movies! You can see the shop in the 2017 film Lady Bird. It also appears in the 2024 movie Sacramento.
