Whitey's Ice Cream facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Ice cream parlor |
| Founded | 1933 in Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
| Founders | Chester "Whitey" Lindgren |
| Headquarters |
Moline, Illinois, U.S.
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U.S.
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Number of locations
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8 (2024) |
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Area served
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Illinois and Iowa |
| Products | Ice cream, milkshakes, malts, and sundaes |
| Owner | Jeff and Jon Tunberg |
Whitey's Ice Cream is a popular ice cream shop chain. It started in Moline, Illinois, and has been a favorite treat in the Illinois and Iowa Quad Cities area since 1933.
Contents
The Story of Whitey's Ice Cream
How It All Began
The first Whitey's Ice Cream shop opened in 1933. It was started by Chester Lindgren in Moline, Illinois. People called him "Whitey" because of his light, white-blonde hair.
In 1935, Whitey hired a 15-year-old named Bob Tunberg. Bob worked at the ice cream shop all through high school and for several years after. In 1953, Whitey Lindgren sold the store to Bob Tunberg.
Growing the Business
Bob Tunberg and his wife, Norma, worked hard. They made fresh ice cream during the day and sold it in their shop at night. Their hard work paid off!
In 1979, Whitey's Ice Cream grew and a second store opened in Moline. This new store was very successful. Soon, more stores opened in Illinois. In 1984, the first Whitey's shop in Iowa opened in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Whitey's Today
Today, Whitey's Ice Cream is owned by Bob Tunberg's sons, Jeff and Jon Tunberg. They work together as co-owners. The title of "president" is left open to honor their father, Bob. He was known as "The Quad-Cities Favorite Ice Cream Man" and passed away in 1991.
Where to Find Whitey's
Whitey's Ice Cream now has nine locations in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities. You can also find their retail stands at the Vibrant Arena at The MARK and Modern Woodmen Park. These stands are open during sporting events. If you live far away, you can even order Whitey's ice cream from their website. They can ship it to many places in the United States.
Whitey's in Grocery Stores
In 1988, Whitey's Ice Cream started selling its products in grocery stores. This was a big change! It meant more people could buy Whitey's ice cream.
The company now distributes its packaged ice cream to grocery stores and schools. These places are usually within 100 miles of the Quad Cities. However, you can find Whitey's ice cream at Hy-Vee stores in many states. This includes Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kansas. You can also buy it at stores like Wal-Mart - Sam's Club, Super Target, Jewel, and Fareway.
In 2019, the Whitey's store at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, Iowa closed. This meant Whitey's no longer had a shop in the Iowa City area. Another store in downtown Iowa City had closed a few years before.
Cool Innovations at Whitey's
Whitey's Ice Cream is famous for its super thick shakes and malts. They are so thick, you can even hold them upside down without spilling! This is because Whitey's uses special powerful machines and their employees are well-trained.
Whitey's also says they created some popular ice cream treats. These include candy bar shakes and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. They also developed a "No Sugar Added" ice cream. It is sweetened with Splenda and is a good option for people who need to watch their sugar intake.
Sgt. Camo Ice Cream
One of Whitey's newer flavors is called Sgt. Camo. This ice cream is camouflage-colored. It is made with graham cracker and marshmallow ice cream, plus a ribbon of Whitey's fudge.
The best part about Sgt. Camo is that all the money made from selling it goes to help military veterans groups. Sgt. Camo ice cream has even been sent to the Pentagon. It has also been sent to military members and their families before troops went to places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
