Ask Washingtonians about their fondest ice cream memories, and chances are they involve Gifford's Ice
Cream & Candy Co. And to find our premium ice cream nearly 70 years ago, you certainly
didn't have to look far. The first Gifford's opened in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 1938 -
and two years later a second shop was established in nearby Bethesda. Others sprung up in
Arlington and in Bailey's Crossroads, both in Virginia, in 1948 and 1956. And in the 1960s,
two more shops opened in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Burke, Virginia. These original stores
featured homemade candies, waitress
service, and individual hot fudge pitchers for sundaes. During the 1950s and 1960s, loyal
fans included President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Gifford's
was also a favorite of Takoma Park native and future movie star Goldie Hawn.
John Gifford, the company's founder, ran the business himself until the early 1980s. After
he passed away in 1983, the reins were passed to his son, Bob. Unfortunately, the business was not in good financial condition,
nor were there the proper systems in place to successfully franchise. Eventually, Bob Gifford
closed up the last store and sold whatever remained of the business.
In 1987 the Hunt family, longtime fans and customers of Gifford's, bought the rights to the
name, trademark, recipes, and packaging. They reopened the business in a new location in
Bethesda, Maryland - across the street from the original Gifford's on Wisconsin Avenue. In 1999, the Hunt family sold the business to their longtime manger, Marcelo Ramagem, and his father Sergio. In 2002 the Ramagems moved the store from
Wisconsin Avenue to a new spot on Bethesda Row, adjacent to a new movie theater and many
restaurants. Sales increased steadily, and Gifford's thrived in its new location - adding
a wholesale business that served the surrounding restaurants, hotels, and caterers.
In late 2002, Neal Lieberman bought out Sergio’s interest in Gifford’s and began working with Marcelo to bring Gifford’s back to its glory days.
Click
here to share your favorite Gifford's stories and memories.
Relive warm memories and create a lifetime of new ones at Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy
Co. For nearly 70 years, we've been the Washington DC area's premier purveyor of gourmet
ice creams and candies. To
place an order or obtain more information, click here.
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