Hoping the folks at Whitey’s Ice Cream don’t mind, I’ve copied some of their history directly from their website at wwwwhiteysicecream.com. Whitey’s is the best ice cream I have found. It’s just a coincidence that I happened to be born in the same city where Whitey’s began. The last time I had Whitey’s was via shipment from my sweet cousin, Stacie, to help speed my recovery from shoulder surgery. The time before that, I had Whitey’s 3 times in one day on the last day of my visit to the Quad Cities. I sat right outside the security checkpoint at Moline Airport, finishing my Turtle Sundae (my fav!).
Whitey’s Ice Cream was established on the corner of 16th Street and 23rd Avenue in Moline in 1933 by Chester “Whitey” Lindgren, who was so nicknamed because of his white-blonde hair. In 1935, Whitey hired a fifteen year-old boy named Bob Tunberg, who worked for Whitey throughout high school and on and off for several years. Whitey and Bob became close friends, and in 1953, Whitey offered to sell the business to Bob and his wife, Norma.
Bob and Norma made ice cream during the day, and they worked in the store selling their product at night. As soon as sons, Jeff and Jon, were old enough, they joined the “family business,” picking up trash in the parking lot before they went to school each morning. Working with and observing their father through the ensuing years gave them a strong sense of the value of hard work and great customer service. Today, Jeff and Jon work side-by-side as Co-Owners of the company, and the title, President, remains open in honor of their father, “The Quad-Cities Favorite Ice Cream Man,” who passed away in 1991.
Whitey’s Ice Cream remained a one-store business until 1977, when a second store was opened on 41st Street in Moline, IL. Gradually, the manufacturing facility and offices were relocated to this larger location. This first step in Whitey’s Ice Cream growth had proven successful, and the Tunbergs didn’t wait another forty-four years before they opened another store. In 1982, stores were opened in East Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL. The Mississippi River was crossed in 1984, when a store was opened in Bettendorf, IA. Since then, another store was opened in Moline, IL at Southpark Mall, three stores have been opened in Davenport, IA, including one at Northpark Mall, one store was opened in downtown Iowa City, IA and another was opened at Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, IA. Additionally, Whitey’s has maintained a retail stand at The Mark of the Quad Cities since it opened for business in 1993.
The Tunbergs credit the success of Whitey’s Ice Cream to a quality product, a clean environment, fair prices and a knowledgeable, friendly staff.
Whitey’s Ice Cream strives to create a great experience for the customer from the moment he or she enters the parking lot until the very last bite is gone. That is why customers are so loyal and why, when ice cream comes to mind, people come to Whitey’s.
I agree with that last line I found on their website, but I would go one step further to say that when nostalgia, comfort, comes to mind, I go to Whitey’s. Look for a future post rating Harris Pizza 5 Hearts. It too is a hometown favorite!
