Say goodbye to creamy, frozen goodness, and to a beloved Utah landmark.
The Snelgrove ice cream parlor, 850 E. 2100 South, will close its doors Saturday, after more than 80 years in Salt Lake City.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, owner of Snelgrove since 1991, confirmed Wednesday that the parlor will close to make room for a plant expansion and administrative offices. The Snelgrove Distinctive Ice Cream manufacturing plant also is at the parlor site.
"Basically, the business has declined in recent years," Dreyer's spokeswoman Diane McIntyre said. "Since the ice cream business itself — the business of making the ice cream that we're selling in the retail stores — is doing so well, we need to make room for expansion."
McIntyre said the company likely will raze the parlor prior to construction of new facilities. A timeline for the project was not available.
Local Snelgrove representatives declined to comment, forwarding inquiries to Dreyer's headquarters in Oakland, Calif.
Snelgrove Ice Cream was founded in 1929 by C.R. Snelgrove and his sons, J. Barr and C. Laird. C. Laird Snelgrove sold a controlling interest in the company to Michael and David Nelson, owners of an H&R Block franchise, in 1989. In 1991, the Nelsons sold the Snelgrove ice cream-making plant on 2100 South to MKD Distributors of Seattle, which is owned by Dreyer's and Edy's Grand Ice Cream.
On Thursday, C. Laird Snelgrove will visit the parlor, where free ice cream will be served from 1 to 3 p.m.
"It's kind of a way for us to bid a fond farewell," McIntyre said, noting the company understands there likely will be a mourning period of sorts for Snelgrove loyalists.
"We certainly understand how something like an ice cream parlor can be so loved," she said. "But it's time to move on to other things."
Even Snelgrove competitors paused to pay their respects.
"I think it sucks," Chad Nielson, general manager of Squirrel Brothers, said when asked how he felt about the closing. Squirrel Brothers bought the Snelgrove parlor at 605 E. 400 South in 1998 and continues to sell its ice cream, along with the Ben & Jerry's brand.
"When the Snelgrove's on South Temple closed, I almost cried. We used to go there on my birthday. So this is sad. I love Snelgrove's ice cream. Plus, their shops are so much fun."
McIntyre noted the ice cream will be available at retail stores — a fact, ironically, that contributed to the decision to close the parlor.
"Really, the decision was based on the fact that Snelgrove's sales are on the rise," she said. "We really need the space because our volume has increased so much. So Snelgrove's ice cream is doing well."
E-mail: jnii@desnews.com