Gunther's Ice Cream facts for kids
Gunther's Ice Cream is a famous old ice cream shop. You can find it at 2801 Franklin Blvd. in Sacramento, California. It first opened its doors way back in 1940.
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The Story of Gunther's
How It Started
Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife, Iva, started Gunther's in 1940. They made all the ice cream right there in the shop. They even came up with new special flavors every month!
The first shop was at Franklin Boulevard and 5th Street. But in 1949, they moved to the spot you see today. That's 2801 Franklin Blvd. The building itself is pretty cool. It shows a mix of old and new styles from after World War II.
Meet Jugglin' Joe
Gunther's has a fun mascot named Jugglin' Joe. He's a soda jerk, which is an old name for someone who served ice cream and sodas. 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 Time
Sadly, Herman Gunther passed away in 1963. His son, Dick Gunther, also passed away in 1967. Iva Gunther couldn't keep running the business alone. So, she sold it to Carl Buchell that same year.
Since 1974, Rick and Marlena Klopp have owned Gunther's. Rick actually started working there in 1969. He was just 22 years old then!
Big Anniversaries 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, something exciting happened. The magazine Business Insider said Gunther's was the best ice cream shop in all of California! That same year, Gunther's turned 75. Mayor Kevin Johnson came again, along with other important people. Even Dinger, the mascot for the Sacramento River Cats baseball team, joined the fun!
In 2018, Gunther's was recognized as a historical landmark. This means it's an important part of history!
