Fentons Creamery

37°49′41″N 122°15′0″W

Fentons Creamery
Oakland Fentons Creamery in 2006
Restaurant information
Established1894 (1894)
Food typeIce cream, sandwiches, hamburgers, and salads
Street address4226 Piedmont Avenue
CityOakland
CountyAlameda County
StateCalifornia
Postal/ZIP Code94611
CountryUnited States
Other locationsVacaville, California
Websitewww.fentonscreamery.com

Fentons Creamery is a historic ice cream parlor and restaurant located on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, California, United States. Fentons is the state’s longest continually operating creamery, with a small herd of dairy cows in West Marin.[1]

History

Eldridge Seth Fenton opened Fentons Creamery in 1894[2] on the corner of 41st and Howe streets. The business moved to its present location in 1961, a few blocks away.[3]

In 1894, Eldridge Seth’s grandson, Melvin Fenton, was responsible for creating Rocky Road, as well as Swiss Milk Chocolate and Toasted Almond.[4][5]

Fentons was then destroyed by an arson fire in 2001.[3] The arsonists claimed the owner of Fentons encouraged them to start the fire.[6] Over $2 million[3] was spent to rebuild it with a grill, more tables, and an expanded menu.[7]

Fentons was featured in the 2009 animated film Up. Director Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rivera, and other Pixar employees are regular customers to Fentons. Docter said that they decided to include it in their movie after the original script had the ice cream parlor named after a different place on the East Coast.[8]

The ice cream parlor also claims to be the original birthplace of rocky road ice cream.[9] Fentons candy maker George Farren made a rocky road candy bar and decided to blend it into an ice cream flavor. This inspired his friends William Dreyer and Joseph Edy of Dreyer's to start making their own version, but substituting almonds for walnuts.[9] However, Dreyer's still continues to market its product as "The Original Rocky Road".[10]

A second location opened in 2007 in Vacaville, California,[8] as well as a shop in the food court of the Oakland International Airport.

In the news

In February 2016, to commemorate Super Bowl 50 (played in Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium), Fentons Creamery created the "Cookie Bowl 50", a 10-pound sundae of 12 scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, plus boulders of Oreo cookies drenched in hot fudge, pineapple, strawberry, marshmallow, and caramel toppings, whipped cream, Oreo Crumbles and cherries—all served in a bowl made from Oreos.[11]

In March 2021, Fentons Creamery made national news when a "very generous" patron left a $1,000 tip for their staff. The gratuity came with a receipt for a $63.31 order, on which the customer wrote "stay well" with a smiley face.[12]

Notable awards

#1 Top Dessert in America

The Banana Special was Named the #1 Top Dessert in America by The Food Channel. The dessert is made with a ripe, split banana and topped with three pounds of home-churned vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream. Fresh strawberries and pineapples are ladled on top, followed by a gooey river of rich chocolate sauce.[13]

References
  1. Paolo Lucchesi,"Interview: Fentons Creamery owner Scott Whidden on the craft and romanticism of the ice cream parlor". insidescoopsf.sfgate.com. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. "Fentons Creamery Family History". Fentons Creamery. Archived from the original on 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  3. Cooper, Tony (February 28, 2003). "Fentons Creamery nears the end of a rocky road". sfgate.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  4. Susan Raga,"The Conflicting Stories Behind The Invention of Rocky Road Ice Cream". mentalfloss.com. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. "The Rocky Road to an Ice Cream's California Roots". goldenstate.is. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  6. Henry K. Lee (2003-04-19). "2-year sentences in Fentons arson case / 2-year prison terms in Fentons arson case / Pair also must pay creamery $3 million". SFGate. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  7. Wandell, Deb (May 15, 2008). "Fenton's Creamery". sfgate.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  8. Hartlaub, Peter (May 27, 2009). "Oakland's Fentons Creamery in Pixar film 'Up'". sfgate.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  9. "Fentons Blender Club: Rocky Road Ice Cream". Archived from the original on 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  10. "Dreyer's Ice Cream - Grand: Rocky Road". Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  11. Amy Graff,"See the outrageous $50 Super Bowl sundae at Fenton's in Oakland". sfgate.com. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  12. Glenn Garner,"California Ice Cream Shop Thanks 'Very Generous' Customer Who Left $1,000 Tip: 'What a Year'". people.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  13. "Top 5 Desserts in America". foodnetwork.com. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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