Philadelphia, PA
- You probably remember The Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck in Philadelphia-Growing up in the 1950s through to today. The family-owned business is the largest soft ice cream truck franchise in the United States, with over 625 trucks and over 350 franchise dealers in 18 states. The trucks are custom-built to sell customers high-quality, delicious ice cream—many associate this truck with childhood memories of the neighborhood or a vacation spot.
Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck
As a kid, you can't help but imagine yourself chasing that truck. As the distant notes grew louder, the ice cream truck would appear. It was no ordinary popsicle truck: This truck offered banana boats, floats, sundaes, parfaits, mixed cones, popcorn, and even cartwheels. These ice cream trucks brought childhood to many and made childhood brighter.
The History of the Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck
From its humble beginnings in a garage in West Philly, The Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck has grown into one of America's most significant soft serve ice cream franchises. During the 1950s, William and James Conway worked at Sweden Freezer and saw a gap in the soft serve market that they could fill by mounting ice cream machines in their trucks. In 1956, they separated from Sweden Freezer and started their ice cream truck empire.
The company was founded in 1956 by the Conway brothers and has since expanded to 634 ice cream trucks and 350 franchises. The first Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck was a mere $1, but today, there are over 350 franchises and a fleet of more than 600 ice cream trucks. As a result, the company has become an iconic American icon, providing cheap ice cream to the masses.
The Conway brothers saw an increased demand for ice cream trucks and proposed a separate division for the trucks. Sweden Freezer, however, disapproved, and they sought help from their uncle in Philadelphia. They built the first truck with this financial support and began advertising the business. The truck still operates today with the slogan, "Mister Softee."
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Joy Franklin
Food and Event Writer
My joy is aimed at food and foodie lovers. I enjoy covering trends, issues, and all things Philly
