One of the landmark businesses in Alhambra is Fosselman’s Ice Cream. Opened in 1941, the Fosselmans have been serving ice cream for over a hundred years. A family run business, owners brothers Chris and John Fosselman have been using the same ice cream mix that serves as the base for all of their flavors for three generations; a recipe that is heavy on buttercream with natural ingredients.

While the base for the ice cream has not changed, the flavors have definitely shifted with the demographics of the community, as new international flavors like Oaxacan Chocolate, Black Sesame and Macapuno were added while keeping their traditional flavors like Rum Raisin, Rocky Road, and Mint Chip always readily available. They also have monthly seasonal flavors like Irish Coffee, Sweet Corn, and Black Licorice. If the flavor you’re looking for isn’t available or you’re craving something in particular, you can order 12 gallons of ice cream and Fosselman’s will customize a flavor just for you.

Fosselman’s Ice Cream was first started in Waverly, Iowa three generations ago by Chris and John’s grandfather, Christian Fosselman, who purchased an ice cream machine while on a trip to Los Angeles. He moved the family to LA and opened shops in South Pasadena, Highland Park, and Alhambra. In the 1970s, all the shops but the one in Alhambra closed. The Alhambra location is not only a storefront, but also their production facility which makes about 2,000-2,500 gallons of hand stirred ice cream every week.

Owners of Fosselman’s have seen generations of customers stop by their shop for ice cream as they continue to grow their business through distributors and expand their customer base. If you have not been to their location yet, make sure to stop by their location at 1824 West Main Street and have a taste of Alhambra history!

Want to read more? Visit AroundAlhambra.org for the full article.