Gunther’s Ice Cream has been serving quality ice cream to the Sacramento area since 1940. Gunther’s owes its reputation to its use of high-quality ingredients, and a slow-churn process that produces the signature Gunther’s Ice Cream experience.
Gunther’s makes ice cream the way ice cream is supposed to be made.
Gunther’s Ice Cream starts with its original recipe from the 1940s. This recipe includes a higher percentage of butterfat cream than commercial brands to produce the rich, smooth ice cream of yesteryear. We then use a hand-controlled method that creates the signature, hand-crafted quality ice cream that our customers have come to expect for almost 80 years.
With over 40 flavors of ice cream, Fruit Freezes, sandwiches, and novelty frozen treats, Gunther’s has become a destination for quality eats and a one-of-a-kind California experience. Gunther’s Ice Cream is exclusively available at our historic landmark location at 2801 Franklin Blvd, in Sacramento and at select restaurants and specialty shops.
The Gunther’s Building
In August of 1948, William and Iva Gunther gained a permit to construct the business’s new location, the current building at 2801 Franklink Blvd. The design was in the Googie architectural style conceived by design firm Koblick and Fisher. The building was constructed by Charles Guth for roughly $40,000 dollars. Gunther’s opened at its current location in December of 1949.
Googie architecture is a form of post-modern architecture influenced by car culture, jets, the Space Age, and the Atomic Age of the 1940s. Elements of Googie architecture include upswept roofs, curvaceous, geometric shapes, and bold use of glass, steel, and neon. The style was popular among motels, coffee houses, and gas stations of the time period.
In 2018 Gunther’s was proud to have the building recognized as a historic landmark of the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources. This recognition ensures that the authentic Gunther’s experience from the 1940s will remain for people to enjoy for years to come.
Jugglin’ Joe
For over 75 years, Jugglin’ Joe has sat atop Gunther’s Ice Cream, presiding over Sacramento’s oldest ice cream parlor. At night, the neon Joe tosses a scoop of ice cream into the air with his right hand, and magically makes it land in the cone in his left hand.
Herman, “Pop” Gunther designed Jugglin’ Joe in 1949 when he and his wife Iva relocated Gunther’s Ice Cream Parlour to Franklin Blvd. & 3rd Ave. It is there that Pop Gunther would tell the children that if Jugglin’ Joe dropped his scoop, that the ice cream was free.
To this day Joe has been keeping everyone, children and adults alike, wondering if this is going to be their lucky day. Pop’s pledge still stands. If Joe ever misses… the ice cream is free!