Gunther's in Sacramento

Great Sign & Great Ice Cream!

The sign is hard to beat! This soda jerk mascot is known as Jugglin' Joe!

I'm glad I can now say, the ice cream is hard to beat also.

Iconic Ice Cream Shop

I've wanted to have a Gunther's Adventure for a long time. Don and I have visited Sacramento about a dozen times, since our son and daughter-in-law moved here. 

We're always searching for iconic landmarks like this one. It's been on the corner here, since 1949.

Started in 1940
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​But the business is even older. "Pop" and Iva Gunther founded the ice cream shop in 1940. They moved to this location on Franklin, in 1949.

I first drove by Gunther's last May, when we were in town visiting the new grand baby. They had just opened and there were no lines. I pulled over and parked. No time for ice cream, but I wanted to peek.

Mint Green

I stepped inside and smelled flavors that took me back to childhood. 

The mint green tile and shiny chrome was refreshing.

The displayed photos were so high it was hard to study them.

Was that Mr. Gunther in the middle?

​I'm glad they've kept these old treasures. The Gunther family sold the biz to Carl Buchell in 1968.

The building hasn't changed much, since this old photo. 

August 2025

Don and I spent all of May in Sacramento focussing on the new baby. We somehow didn't have time for an ice cream adventure. 

But we returned in August and it felt much more like ice cream weather!

Flavors!

Scott suggested a visit to Gunther's! He packed up Baby Nora and drove us to the ice cream shop on Franklin. Once inside, it was time to make a decision.

There were so many choices! I did not pick Vietnamese Coffee. 

Scott stepped up to the counter. Poor Baby Nora didn't get to order any ice cream.

As we waited for our order, I wondered about the tall counters. Too tall for the poor little boy, trying to peek at the action.

Our ice cream server on the other side looked like she might be standing on her toes too... reaching up to put our cones in the holder! It made it feel like we were all little kids.

Gunther's at Last!

I couldn't have been happier with my rich, high-fat ice cream! Gunther's is known for their traditional methods of manufacturing ice-cream. Made on sight daily.

My Butter Brickle choice took me back in time, once again. When my son questioned me about the flavor, I suddenly realized my childhood favorite isn't common anymore.  What do you know?

I feel a little sad that Nora will have to wait a long while to have her first ice cream.

But I'm pretty sure we'll be back many times. Hopefully at night, so I can see Juggling Joe in action!
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