Tom's Ice Cream Bowl

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Coordinates: 39°56′53″N 82°00′40″W / 39.948°N 82.0110°W / 39.948; -82.0110
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Tom's Ice Cream Bowl
Map
Restaurant information
Established1948; 76 years ago (1948)
Owner(s)Joe Baker
Previous owner(s)Jack Hemmer, Tom Mirgon, Bill Sullivan
Food typeAmerican
Street address532 Mcintire Avenue
CityZanesville
StateOhio 43701-3342
CountryUnited States
Coordinates39°56′53″N 82°00′40″W / 39.948°N 82.0110°W / 39.948; -82.0110
Websitewww.tomsicecreambowl.com

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl is an ice cream parlor and restaurant in Zanesville, Ohio, founded in 1948 as the Jack Hemmer Ice Cream Company.[1][2] It is a Zanesville tourist attraction and a cultural icon and institution.

History[edit]

Tom's Ice Cream Bowl was founded in 1948 by cousins Jack Hemmer and Tom Mirgon.[1][2][3][4][5] The shop was located in a small space on Linden Avenue in Zanesville, Ohio, and was originally named the Jack Hemmer Ice Cream Company.[1][6]

When the Lind skating rink opened in Linden Avenue, in 1948, it was open for Black residents on Mondays. Tom's Ice Cream Bowl was located a few doors away, and not wanting Black people coming from the rink to his parlor, Tom closed the store on Mondays.[7][8]

In October 1950, they moved the restaurant to its current location on McIntire Avenue.[1][9][10] In 1953, Tom Mirgon bought the remainder of the store from Jack Hemmer.[1] In 1957, Mirgon renamed the shop to Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, after a customer was surprised by the large size of the sundaes and demanded, "Put mine in a soup bowl!".[1][11]

Bill Sullivan, began working at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in 1968 while a high school student.[12] In 1970, Sullivan was drafted to the U.S. Army and left Zanesville.[12] He later returned, and in 1979 was eating lunch at the shop when Tom Mirgon asked Sullivan to return to the shop as a manager.[12] Sullivan agreed to return, as long as he would have the opportunity to purchase the store when it became available.[12] Mirgon retired from his position on April 1, 1984, selling the store to Sullivan.[1][13][14][15] Tom's Ice Cream Bowl became known for its service by serving prodigious quantities of ice cream in soup-sized bowls, which was the iconic source of the eponymous name. There was an understanding that they "would never change its name."[16] In 2019, Sullivan sold the shop to longtime manager, Joe Baker.[17]

The restaurant has 1950s decor, and waiters still wear aprons and bow ties when serving.[15][18] They are famous for their Tin Roof Sundaes, and for serving their ice cream in soup bowls.[note 1]

In 1998, the shop was named one of the top ice cream shops in the country by USA Today.[12][18][27] It is listed as a travel destination for ice cream aficionados.[28][29][30] Rick Sebak, who researched and produced An Ice Cream Show for the Public Broadcasting System, rated it as one of the ten best ice cream producers in the U.S.A. He conducted his research, and "the Pittsburgher nobly gained 30 pounds in one summer researching [the show]. We're not talking supermarket stuff." It's made on-site and small batches from premium ingredients and "full of butterfat ('that's what makes it taste so good.')"[27]

The store is a well worn Zanesville tradition.[31][20] "Their sundaes are legendary",[28] and their product and setting is quirky.[32] It is the only place in Zanesville that makes ice cream on a daily basis. It is unique.[33] It is a complement to a tourist's visit to Zanesville, joining the Y-bridge and "Vasehenge" (which celebrates Zanesville's historic import as a center of pottery making) as a Zanesville attraction.[34] Tom's Ice Cream Bowl "has gone from a Zanesville staple to a global tourist attraction".[18]

In popular culture[edit]

In 2017, Tom's was featured on the Food Network television show "Ice Cream Nation".[12][15][35]

Many celebrities and politicians have visited Tom's, including John Glenn, Mitt Romney,[36] John Kasich, Troy Balderson, and Mark Dantonio.[10][18][37] Mitt Romney held a campaign rally outside the shop in August 2012.[38][39] After Romney's visit, Sullivan named an ice cream flavor "White House" after him.[40]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hannahs, Brandon (July 1, 2018). "Tom's Ice Cream still going strong in its 70th year". Times Recorder. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Lynch & Sims 2006, p. 118.
  3. ^ Genader, Ann (June 13, 2018). "Before social media, ice cream was the real connector of people". North Jersey, northjersey.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  4. ^ Wince, Lori (1998-07-25). "Zanesville ice cream shop named one of the best". Coshocton Tribune. Thomson News Service. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Taste the Season". Ohio Magazine. Vol. 28, no. 14. Cleveland, Ohio: Great Lakes Publishing. March 2006. p. 75. ISSN 0279-3504.
  6. ^ "DeWine visits Zanesville, supports local shop". Ohio University – Zanesville. March 10, 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  7. ^ Watson, Don (December 2009). "Once upon a time in America". The Monthly. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  8. ^ Watson 2020.
  9. ^ Mirones, Tony (March 9, 2021). "Four hidden gems within 100 miles of I-270". WCMH-TV NBC4. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b Ulman, Connie (October 23, 2018). "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville, Ohio, has the scoops". MultiBrief. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  11. ^ Vonada, Damaine (July 19, 2016). "Here's the Scoop on Tom's Ice Cream Bowl". State of Ohio. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Kull, Hayden (June 13, 2017). "Food Network to film at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl Wednesday". Times Recorder. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  13. ^ Diamond, iTrack llc, Brian. "Tom's Icecream Bowl". www.tomsicecreambowl.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl Profile". Dun & Bradstreet. April 14, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Zanesville ice cream shop to be featured on Food Network". 10tv.com. WBNS-TV. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  16. ^ Matthews, Peggy (1992-03-25). "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl will not alter what has made it successful". Times Recorder. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2021-04-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Pizzutto, Nicolette (November 20, 2019). "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl under new ownership". WHIZ. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d Poisal, Anthony (December 12, 2019). "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, a national treasure from Zanesville". Southeast Ohio Magazine. Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Retrieved May 12, 2021. and here.
  19. ^ Godby & Vahey 2012, pp. 25, 121–122.
  20. ^ a b McCollough 2013, p. 63.
  21. ^ Bai, Matt (October 26, 1998). "The Time Traveler". Newsweek.
  22. ^ Dray, April (March 29, 2019). "11 Nostalgic Restaurants In Ohio Where Dining Is A Blast From The Past". Only in Your State. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  23. ^ Fisher, Michele. "Old Zanesville photos". Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  24. ^ Otis, Ginger Adams (September 6, 2015). "Ohio proves to be a great destination for a history- and fun-loving family". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  25. ^ "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl, a little video about us" (Video). Trace-Studios.com/Tom's Ice Cream Bowl – via YouTube.
  26. ^ Arnold 2004, p. 149.
  27. ^ a b Goodfriend, Anne (July 24, 1998). "10 great places to . . . get the scoop" (PDF). USA Today.
  28. ^ a b "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl". Ohio Traveler. 16 January 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  29. ^ Dray, April (May 16, 2020). "The Sweet Treats From Tom's Ice Cream Bowl In Ohio Are Worthy Of A Sweet Road Trip". Only in Your State. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  30. ^ "Ohio Ice Cream Trail" (PDF). Ohio.org. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  31. ^ Rudloff, Jim. (1997-02-28). "Zanesville's favorite tradition" (pages 1, 2, and 3). Times Recorder. Archived from the original (pages 1, 2, and 3) on 2021-04-26  Retrieved 2021-04-26 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Dray, April (July 12, 2018). "8 Quirky Ice Cream Shops Around Ohio That Are Sure To Put A Smile On Your Face". Only in Your State. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  33. ^ Shaw, Tyler (January 29, 2019). "Tom's Ice Cream Bowl". Visit Zanesville. Zanesville, Ohio Visitors Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2021. When you go to Tom's, they are serving fresh ice cream and all fresh fruit. They also have seasonal flavors, such as chocolate peanut butter cup, salty caramel, cherry cordial, red raspberry grand, pumpkin, coffee, and Tom's Trax.
  34. ^ Dray, April (March 19, 2021). "Visit Zanesville's Vasehenge, A Quirky Roadside Attraction In Ohio". Only in Your State. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  35. ^ Whiz Staff (June 14, 2017). "Food Network to Feature Tom's Ice Cream Bowl". Zanesville, Ohio: WHIZ. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  36. ^ Sewell, Dan (September 5, 2016). "Candidates hungry for votes show up for Ohio food favorites". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved April 19, 2021. ... in 2012, Owner Bill Sullivan got [Romney] to try the "White House," vanilla ice cream with cherries.
  37. ^ Miller, Zeke J. (March 13, 2016). "Romney to Campaign With Kasich in Ohio". TIME. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  38. ^ Holland, Steve (August 15, 2012). "Romney eats his way across Ohio". Reuters. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  39. ^ Saelinger, Tracey (October 22, 2012). "Food on the trail: Why Obama, Romney must visit this diner". Today. NBC. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  40. ^ Keeler, Janet K. (August 22, 2012). "To bond with voters, Romney eats from sea to shining sea". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 16 April 2021.

Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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