Leopold's Ice Cream
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food and beverage |
| Founded | August 18, 1919 in Savannah, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | George Leopold, Peter Leopold |
| Headquarters | Savannah , United States |
Area served | Savannah, Georgia |
Key people | Stratton Leopold (co-owner) |
| Products | Ice cream |
| Website | leopoldsicecream |
Leopold's Ice Cream is a historic ice cream shop located in Savannah, Georgia, established in 1919 by Greek immigrant siblings George and Peter Leopold, who moved from Brazil, Indiana to be closer to relatives. Although the original store ceased operations in 1969 under the management of current co-owner Stratton Leopold, the family's ice cream legacy persisted through their younger brother Basil at a separate venue.
History
The first Leopold's establishment, known as Leopold's Purest Ice Cream, was situated at the intersection of East Gwinnett Street and Habersham Street within Savannah's Historic District. After serving in World War I, Peter Leopold, along with George, secured this location and began offering chocolates, food items, and ice cream. Basil joined the enterprise in 1925. The brothers crafted their ice cream on-site utilizing the French pot method taught by expert confectioner James Peter Zarafonetis, employing locally sourced dairy products.
In 1935, the shop underwent renovations and enhanced its delivery capabilities. Following their father's passing in the 1960s, Stratton Leopold managed the business alongside his mother but decided to close it in 1969 before embarking on a Hollywood career. During this period, Basil ran an ice cream-serving restaurant at Medical Arts Shopping Center until his family sold it in the early 1980s.
Leopold's made a comeback in August 2004 with a new location on East Broughton Street downtown, quickly gaining popularity marked by lengthy queues. To faithfully replicate the original soda fountain ambiance, Stratton recruited Hollywood production designer Dan Lomino. Ice cream continues to be produced off-site using the founders' original recipes and is transported to the store as required.
Additionally, Leopold's maintains both a kiosk and a full-service outlet at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Their standout flavor is tutti frutti, famously enjoyed by Savannah native Johnny Mercer, who once worked there during his youth. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter favored butter pecan and contributed the foreword to Leopold's Ice Cream: A Century of Tasty Memories, 1919–2019.
The company marked its 100th anniversary on August 18, 2019, with a celebratory block party.