Isaly's facts for kids
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| Industry | Food processing |
|---|---|
| Founded | Mansfield, Ohio |
| Founders | William Isaly |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Deli & Dairy |
Isaly's was a chain of family-owned dairies and restaurants. It began in Mansfield, Ohio, in the early 1900s. You could find Isaly's stores all over the American Midwest until the 1970s. Today, Isaly's is famous for its special chipped chopped ham and for creating the super popular Klondike Bar ice cream treat. You might know the Klondike Bar from its famous question: "What would you do for a Klondike Bar?"
Contents
History of Isaly's
How Isaly's Started
The company was started by William Isaly. His family came from Switzerland and settled in Ohio in the 1800s. William Isaly opened his first dairy in Mansfield, Ohio. At first, he processed milk to sell to other stores. But soon, he opened his own retail stores. These stores sold milk, ice cream, bread, and even had lunch counters. Isaly was also one of the first to think of a "convenience store." He even had one location that sold gasoline to drivers!
Growing Across the Midwest
Isaly's first grew to Marion, Ohio, in 1914. Then, it expanded to Youngstown, Ohio, which became its biggest market. At one point, Youngstown had almost 130 Isaly's stores! By 1929, Isaly's reached Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company kept growing through the 1930s and 1940s. It built more dairies and had 310 stores stretching from Ohio to Iowa. Many people in Pittsburgh thought Isaly's started there because it was so popular.
To help people remember how to spell "Isaly's," the company used a fun phrase in its ads: "I Shall Always Love You Sweetheart." In Marion, Ohio, Isaly's even had an amateur basketball team!
Unique Store Designs
In the 1930s, Isaly's started building its stores and factories in a cool, modern style. This style was called Art Deco or Streamline Moderne. Many of these buildings were designed by architect Vincent Schoeneman. The dairy in Youngstown, Ohio, was a great example. It had a sleek design with a tall, five-story glass block tower.
Famous Isaly's Products
Besides the Klondike Bar, Isaly's was also known for its special Skyscraper Cones. These ice cream cones were created in Youngstown, Ohio. Instead of round scoops, they used a special design that made the ice cream tall and cone-shaped.
The company also had huge success selling chipped chopped ham. This ham was sliced super thin for sandwiches. The famous sandwich was even shown on a TV special called Sandwiches That You Will Like. Isaly's also sold "immunized milk" for babies. This milk came from special herds of cows.
Why Isaly's Stores Closed
In the 1960s, people started buying different things. Fewer people wanted milk delivered to their homes. Also, bigger companies started to take over the market. Isaly's had a "loose company structure," meaning it wasn't as organized as larger corporations. This made it hard for Isaly's to compete. So, its dairies began to close in the mid-1960s.
Some members of the Isaly family tried to keep food businesses going. In Pittsburgh, Isaly's stores became "Sweet William" restaurants. In Ohio, some restaurants operated as "Isaly Shoppe" until the last one closed in Marion, Ohio, in the mid-1990s.
Isaly's Today
Since 1984, the Isaly's name has made a comeback! A company called Delicatessen Distributing Incorporated bought the Isaly's trademark. They now sell the original quality meats, cheeses, and sauces under the Isaly's name. You can find these products in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. This company also sells Isaly brand ice cream (but not Klondike Bars). The Klondike Bar product line is now owned by a different company called Unilever.
Today, there are still at least three Isaly's locations operating in southwestern Pennsylvania. You can find them in West View, Turtle Creek, and the East Allegheny neighborhood of Pittsburgh. These stores still look much like the classic Isaly's inside. In 2012, the West View Isaly's got new owners. They kept everything the same but changed the name slightly to "I Shall Always Love You Sweetie." This name uses the letters from the old Isaly's saying. The Isaly's in Turtle Creek was renamed Turtle Creek Market, but it still has the Isaly's name on the front.
