Tom's Ice Cream Bowl facts for kids

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl is a famous ice cream parlor and restaurant located in Zanesville, Ohio. It first opened in 1948 as the Jack Hemmer Ice Cream Company. Today, it's a popular spot for tourists and a special part of Zanesville's history and culture. People love it for its delicious ice cream and old-fashioned charm.

History of Tom's Ice Cream Bowl

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl was started in 1948 by two cousins, Jack Hemmer and Tom Mirgon. Their first shop was a small place on Linden Avenue in Zanesville. It was originally called the Jack Hemmer Ice Cream Company.

In October 1950, the restaurant moved to its current home on McIntire Avenue. A few years later, in 1953, Tom Mirgon bought the rest of the store from Jack Hemmer. Then, in 1957, Tom Mirgon changed the shop's name to Tom's Ice Cream Bowl. This happened after a customer was surprised by how big the sundaes were. The customer joked, "Put mine in a soup bowl!"

Bill Sullivan started working at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in 1968 when he was in high school. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to Zanesville. In 1979, Tom Mirgon asked Bill to come back as a manager. Bill agreed, hoping he could buy the store one day. On April 1, 1984, Tom Mirgon retired and sold the shop to Bill Sullivan.

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl became well-known for serving huge amounts of ice cream in soup-sized bowls. This is where the "Bowl" part of its name came from! There was a promise that the name would never change. In 2019, Bill Sullivan sold the shop to Joe Baker, who had been a manager there for a long time.

What Makes Tom's Special?

The restaurant still looks like it did in the 1950s. The waiters even wear old-fashioned aprons and bow ties! They are very famous for their Tin Roof Sundaes. And, of course, for serving their ice cream in those big soup bowls.

In 1998, USA Today newspaper named Tom's Ice Cream Bowl one of the best ice cream shops in the country. It's a must-visit place for anyone who loves ice cream. Rick Sebak, who made a TV show about ice cream for Public Broadcasting System, said Tom's was one of the top ten ice cream makers in the U.S.A. He found that their ice cream is made fresh every day in small amounts. It uses great ingredients and has lots of butterfat, which makes it taste so good!

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl is a beloved tradition in Zanesville. Their sundaes are legendary, and the shop has a unique, quirky feel. It's the only place in Zanesville that makes its own ice cream daily. It's a great stop for tourists visiting Zanesville, just like the famous Y-bridge and "Vasehenge," which celebrates the city's history of making pottery. Tom's Ice Cream Bowl has grown from a local favorite to a place known around the world.

Tom's in Popular Culture

In 2017, Tom's Ice Cream Bowl was featured on the Food Network TV show "Ice Cream Nation." This helped even more people learn about the famous shop.

Many well-known people have visited Tom's over the years. These include astronauts like John Glenn and politicians such as Mitt Romney, John Kasich, Troy Balderson, and sports coach Mark Dantonio. Mitt Romney even held a campaign event outside the shop in August 2012. After Romney's visit, Bill Sullivan created a new ice cream flavor called "White House" in his honor.