Nelson's Ice Cream
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food service |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Stillwater , United States |
Area served | Stillwater, Minnesota |
| Products | Ice cream |
Nelson's Ice Cream is a well-known ice cream parlor located in Stillwater, Minnesota, a popular destination along the St. Croix River. Founded in 1923, it has been a staple in the community for nearly a century.
History
In the 1920s, the site originally housed a grocery store named Seven Corners, operated by John Lustig, which offered Supreme brand ice cream alongside grocery items. Following Lustig's passing in 1947, Art Nelson—who resided on the premises and had connections with Minneapolis-based Brown's Ice Cream—assumed ownership. Upon Art Nelson’s death in 1964, his nephew Wade acquired the establishment, introduced generous ice cream cone servings, and rebranded it as Nelson's Dairy Store. The business was sold in 1992 to Bob Pasket and Chuck Kummeth, who preserved the tradition of large portion sizes. Later, in 2006, Stillwater natives Dave Najarian and Bill Bergstrom took over; Najarian remains the current manager.
Nelson's today
Nelson's operates seasonally from April through October and features numerous flavors including Pirate's Booty, Snowflake, and Rocky Road. The ice cream is sourced from "Brown's Ice Cream," a company once owned by the Nelson family.
Reflecting its grocery store origins, Nelson's has minimal indoor space with no inside seating and only a handful of outdoor picnic tables. It is renowned for its oversized servings, most notably the Lumberjack—a sundae composed of five scoops topped with various toppings. A photo wall honors patrons who have successfully completed this challenge.