Some American ice cream shops have been serving customers for more than a century, and you can still walk in and order their famous sundaes, cones, and floats.
Bassetts Ice Cream began in 1861 and still serves customers at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. In Virginia, Doumar’s continues making waffle cones using a machine built in 1905.
Other historic parlors have preserved their original soda fountains, antique furnishings, and family recipes.
These 15 ice cream shops have survived fires, floods, changing owners, and generations of competition. Some still serve the same specialties that made them famous decades ago, while others have become destinations for anyone who loves a little history with dessert.
1. Bassetts Ice Cream, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A mule did the hard work when this story began in 1861. Lewis Dubois Bassett, a Quaker farmer and teacher, churned ice cream on his Salem, New Jersey farm and carried it to Philadelphia markets.
By 1892, Bassetts became one of the first merchants in the new Reading Terminal Market. It is still there today, and it is the last original tenant.
Customers order across a marble counter that is about 125 years old. The ice cream is Philadelphia-style, which means no eggs, just cream and sugar doing their job.
The menu lists more than 40 flavors. Vanilla with visible bean flecks is the top seller, while cinnamon and matcha attract the curious crowd.
Six generations of the family have run the business. Tip for visitors: decide on a flavor before reaching the front, because the lunchtime line moves fast.
2. Day’s Ice Cream, Ocean Grove, New Jersey
Back in 1876, Ocean Grove was a five-year-old tent colony with sand dunes and pine trees. Brothers William and Pennington Day opened their parlor on Pitman Avenue that August anyway.
Nearly 150 summers later, it is the oldest continuously operating business in town. Branches once popped up in Asbury Park and Newark, but only the original survived.
The outdoor garden is the big draw. Guests sit under striped awnings on a porch that used to be a tea room.
Inside, bentwood chairs and walnut tables echo old photographs of the space. Antique ice cream molds sit on display too.
Beyond scoops, try waffles with ice cream or the Italian Iced Tea topped with lemon Italian ice. Plan ahead, since Day’s opens only from May to October.
Some families have been coming for six generations, so you will be in good company.
3. Fentons Creamery, Oakland, California
Thirteen children helped E.S. Fenton run his dairy when it opened in 1894.
The family later switched to ice cream, and a full soda fountain followed in 1922.
Fentons even claims to have created Rocky Road. Dreyer’s says otherwise, so the friendly debate rolls on.
The famous order is the Black and Tan sundae. It stacks toasted almond and vanilla ice cream with caramel, fudge, almonds, and whipped cream, often weighing about a pound.
Sharing is not a sign of weakness here. It is smart planning.
The Piedmont Avenue shop opened in 1961 and was rebuilt after a fire in 2001. Ice cream is made in small 10-gallon batches.
Fans of the movie Up may spot the connection, since the creamery made a cameo. Weekends get busy, so visit on a weekday afternoon if you want a quicker table.
4. Toomer’s Drugs, Auburn, Alabama
A former Auburn football halfback opened this drugstore in 1896. Sheldon Toomer played on the school’s first team in 1892 and later earned a pharmacy degree.
The shop gave Auburn one of its quirkiest traditions. Toomer’s once had the only telegraph in town, and workers tossed ticker tape over power lines after away-game wins.
That habit grew into rolling the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper. The store even sells rolls for the party.
Inside, the soda fountain serves ice cream sodas and root beer floats. Still, the real star is the fresh-squeezed lemonade, once praised by Esquire.
On game days, the lemonade line stretches out the door. Arrive early or pick a quiet weekday.
Try a strawberry or frozen version if plain lemonade feels too ordinary, then browse the Auburn souvenirs.
5. Jahn’s, Jackson Heights, New York
Nearly 30 Jahn’s parlors once stretched across New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Today, only one remains, and it sits in Jackson Heights, Queens.
John Jahn opened the first shop in the Bronx in 1897. The Jackson Heights location arrived in 1957, and some of its stained-glass lampshades date to that year.
Red vinyl booths and dark wood paneling keep the old look alive. A 2016 renovation aimed to set the room back in time on purpose.
The legendary order is the Kitchen Sink Sundae. Estimates on how many people it feeds range from eight to a cheeky 24.
Tom Moukas started here as a waiter in 1960 and bought the place in 1970. His sons now help run it.
Breakfast is served all day, so dessert after pancakes is technically allowed.
6. Zaharakos, Columbus, Indiana
Two onyx soda fountains from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair stand behind this counter. Greek immigrant brothers James, Lewis, and Pete Zaharako opened the business in 1900.
The room features a 50-foot mahogany backbar, tin ceilings, and a Tiffany-style lamp. It also holds a 1908 Welte Orchestrion, a self-playing organ with 184 pipes.
Zaharakos closed briefly in 2006. Local businessman Tony Moravec bought and restored it, reopening the doors in 2009.
Ice cream is made on-site for sundaes, malts, and cones. Order a hand-pulled soda with Green River syrup, a bright green local favorite.
Hungry for something savory first? The cheesy sloppy Joe sandwich is a popular pick.
Save time for the Museum Room and the soda fountain library, which holds over 70,000 documents. Few dessert stops double as a history lesson this well.
7. Angelo Brocato, New Orleans, Louisiana
At age 12, Angelo Brocato began training in a gelato shop in Palermo, Sicily. He brought those skills to New Orleans and opened his first store in the French Quarter in 1905.
His very first flavor, torroncino, is still on the menu. It blends vanilla gelato with cinnamon and ground almonds.
The parlor moved to North Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City in 1978. After Hurricane Katrina flooded it in 2005, it reopened in 2006 with a brass band welcoming it back.
Family members still run things today. Glass cases hold gelato, Italian ices, and pastries.
Cannoli are filled to order, so they stay crisp. Spumoni and cassata come served on plates in the old sliced style.
In 2023, Brocato’s was named a James Beard semifinalist for outstanding bakery. Try lemon ice on a hot afternoon, a local habit for over a century.
8. Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue, Norfolk, Virginia
Paper dishes ran out at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and Abe Doumar spotted a chance. He rolled a thin waffle into a cone, topped it with ice cream, and launched a legend.
Historians still debate who truly invented the cone. Doumar’s, however, has the hardware to back up its story.
Abe built a four-iron waffle machine in 1905. That same machine still makes cones today, and guests can watch them get rolled by hand.
The Monticello Avenue location opened in 1934 after a hurricane wrecked the old beach stand. Carhops still bring trays right to car windows.
Flavors stay simple, with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and butter pecan. Pair a cone with minced pork barbecue or a limeade.
The spot has appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so expect fellow food fans in the parking lot.
9. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, Ephraim, Wisconsin
Oscar and Mattie Wilson opened a small sweets shop in Ephraim in 1906. More than a century later, it remains a Door County summer ritual.
The building sits across from the waterfront in this tiny village. Families often stop after a day of biking or boating on the peninsula.
Towering sundaes and classic cones fill the dessert menu. The house-brewed root beer is a must for many regulars.
Root beer floats combine two specialties in one glass. That is efficient snacking at its finest.
The old-fashioned dining room also serves burgers and sandwiches. Tables fill quickly on summer evenings, so arrive before sunset crowds.
Since Ephraim is a seasonal town, check hours before visiting in spring or fall. Bring a camera too, because the red-and-white building is one of the most photographed spots in the village.
10. Aglamesis Bro’s Ice Cream & Chocolates, Cincinnati, Ohio
Imported marble and ornate ceilings greet guests at this Cincinnati favorite. Greek immigrant brothers Thomas and Nicholas Aglamesis started the business in 1908.
The Oakley parlor opened in 1913 and still holds its early decorative details. Few dessert shops in Ohio look this fancy.
The menu pairs ice cream with handmade chocolates. Both follow recipes passed down within the family.
Sundaes are the classic order. Many come with house-made hot fudge, a point of pride for the shop.
Visitors often leave with a box of chocolates for later. That plan works well, since chocolates travel better than scoops.
Around holidays, the candy counter gets especially busy. Shop early if you want specialty boxes.
Snap a picture of the ceiling while waiting, since it is one of the most admired features in the building.
11. Eddie’s Sweet Shop, Forest Hills, New York
Queens has its share of old-school treasures, and this soda fountain dates to 1909. Eddie’s Sweet Shop still looks much like a parlor from the early 1900s.
A vintage counter with stools anchors the room. Old fixtures and simple decor keep things charmingly unchanged.
The ice cream is homemade. So is the thick whipped cream that crowns many desserts.
House-made sauces finish the sundaes. Hot fudge and caramel are popular choices.
Grab a counter seat to watch sundaes get built in real time. It is free entertainment with dessert attached.
Film crews have used the shop as a backdrop thanks to its preserved interior. Weekend evenings get crowded with families, so a weekday visit means shorter waits.
Bring cash as a backup, since older shops sometimes have their own payment habits.
12. Trowbridge’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, Florence, Alabama
Orange-pineapple ice cream is the flavor that put this Florence shop on the map. Trowbridge’s opened in 1918 and has served it to generations of locals.
The combination sounds unusual at first. Most first-timers order it once and come back for more.
A traditional lunch counter fills the space. The menu covers simple sandwiches, with chicken salad being a well-known favorite.
Milkshakes and banana splits round out the dessert side. Prices tend to stay friendly for families.
The shop sits in historic downtown Florence. That makes it easy to pair with a walk through nearby stores and landmarks.
Hours are shorter than many modern spots, and it is often closed on Sundays. Check ahead before driving over.
Ask staff about the shop’s history, since many workers are happy to share stories about the old days.
13. Leopold’s Ice Cream – Broughton Street, Savannah, Georgia
Hollywood and ice cream meet on Broughton Street. Three Greek immigrant brothers founded Leopold’s in 1919, and the family story took an unexpected turn later.
Owner Stratton Leopold became a film producer. The shop now displays movie memorabilia from his career.
The current parlor opened in 2004. It uses original fixtures from the old shop, including pieces of the soda fountain.
Tutti Frutti is the signature flavor. It follows the family’s historic recipe with candied fruit and nuts.
Lines often stretch down the sidewalk, especially on summer evenings. They tend to move faster than they look.
Sandwiches and soups are also on the menu. Consider visiting after dinner downtown, then strolling Savannah’s squares with a cone.
Sampling is common here, so ask to try a flavor before committing.
14. Kohr’s Frozen Custard the Original, Seaside Heights, New Jersey
Last on this list but first in many boardwalk hearts, Kohr’s started with frozen custard in 1919. The Kohr brothers developed the recipe, and Elton Kohr set up his New Jersey operation in 1923.
Frozen custard includes egg yolks. That gives it a richer style than regular soft serve.
The famous order is the orange-and-vanilla twist. It is bright, simple, and very photogenic.
The Seaside Heights stand sits right on the boardwalk. Amusement rides and the Atlantic Ocean are steps away.
Families often grab a cone between games and rides. It works as a reward for surviving the roller coaster.
Lines can grow on hot summer nights. Ordering earlier in the day helps.
Grab extra napkins too, since boardwalk breezes have strong opinions about cones.
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