Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (DawnT)

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:48:07 GMT

Four blocks from Miracle Mile? Only High School that I can think of was Dearborne. Only other school 4 blocks is Coral Gables Elementery. CG Senior high is down further towards Bird & Le Jeune. The Jahn's Tara and I were talking about I think was between Salzedo and Ponce on Miracle Mile' north side.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (peppertree)

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:41:07 GMT

How lucky can a guy be? I went to PS 52 across the street from Jahn's in Sheepshead Bay and then Jr. High nearby. My high school was four blocks from Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, FL with another Jahn's nearby.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (DawnT)

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:27:41 GMT

Tara had mentioned the one in Coral Gables which I think closed down about '76-'77 about the same time several of the other restaurants on Miracle Mile did because of diminishing evening and friday night shopping and theater draw. Swenson's became the place primarly for the younger/university crowds with a still active theater nearby. When my girls were in still in school in the early 90's, you could still see the workers making ice cream behind glass. Last time I stopped in was about '2000 and the place had deteriorated from it's former glory. Gone was the on-site ice cream processing and was now ugly,visible storage. Jahn's brought back wonderful memories of carefree high school friday nights. To those that recall the area, we can't forget Chippy's. They were really a delicatessen-style restaurant, but had some awesome ice cream parlor style offerings. About the only other similar venue to Jahn's during that same time was Farrel's in Hialeah which was a continuous experiment of corporate/Marriot blundering and tampering with a wonderful,inital concept. Never realized that Jahn's was a chain.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (David_NYC)

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:09:14 GMT

Here is a March, 2009 NY Times feature about the sole surviving Jahn's:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/nyregion/thecity/22jahn.html

The owner was brutually honest with the Times reporter. He should have also stated that there were chain ice cream dip stores in the area, such as Cold Stone that he competes with, along with generic coffee shops/diners.

I went to that Jahn's quite often from 1963-1969 while visiting relatives in Jackson Heights. Even then, I wasn't sure they still made their own ice cream. But, there was plenty of good quality bulk ice cream to be had.

Just like with ice cream parlors, there are no more candy stores with soda fountains in the area. Rents and labor are too high. Our site does discuss Roadfood ice cream parlors, but they tend to be in lower cost of business areas. Their prices are also quite high if they are selling home made ice cream made from locally procured fluid milk.

People talk about what goes into hot dogs. You would probably eat less ice cream if you saw what they make commercial ice cream out of today. An ice cream plant in New York may use evaporated cream from Texas, plus all sorts of butter fat and dairy derivative products.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:33:48 GMT

ZOETMB----------I will take out my secret Orphan Annie de-coder ring and
Figure out the message---ZOETMB--a tough one---but just
hang on a few minutes.

Back to Jahn's--- I wish all Roadfooders could go back to the Jahns in Richmond Hill after WW2 when we were there ------- it was wonderful----and just like everything else-------It passed and is forgotten----- it had it's 15 minutes of fame-----great home made ice cream with dozens of variations. Kids of today don't know what they are missing. They grow up much too early------an I-Pod, or cell phone can never replace sitting in Jahn's with a "Kitchen Sink" shared by 4 buddies ---2 of each gender !!!!

Put another nickel in---
in the nickel-o-deon
and music, music, music !!!!!!----------- Theresa Brewer RIP.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (zoetmb)

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:16:38 GMT

I went to the Jackson Heights Jahn's in Queens about five years back and it was horrible.

Back in the early 1970s, I ate regularly at Jahn's in Sheepshead Bay and on Flatbush Av/Church Avenue. In those days the food was quite good - you could get a side salad that was more complex than anything you get today from most restaurants. You could get a hot open roast beef sandwich that was also quite fresh and "home-made".

I suspect, although I can't prove, that when Jahn's was in its prime, it probably made its own ice-cream. At the end, they probably bought ice-cream from a wholesaler that also served other restaurants. Nothing special.

That's what kills all of these types of places...either people get bored with them or the quality slowly erodes. Then you get to a point where the place isn't offering anything distinctive anymore. In the case of Jahn's, since most of them operated near large move theatres and almost all of those large movie theatres closed, their business model was no longer viable.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (MacTAC)

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:24:21 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by MacTAC
Very sad these places are gone. I have been to the sole survivor, Richmond Hill at least three times in the last year. Glad it's still here...

Glad I was wrong about RH being the sole survivor. Thanks to this thread I tracked down the JH location and ate there a few days ago. The food was fine and the only Ice Cream we had, my son's Chocolate Shake was good. Next time WILL be Ice Cream...

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (NYNM)

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:37:01 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by kozel

It looks like the Richmond Hill location has closed. Nice article on Forgotten-NY

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SLICES/jahns/jahns.html

Sad News.

The "AM NY" newspaper today announced that this was almost the last Jahn's left. It served its last meal on Thanksgiving this year after 70 years of business.

The article mentioned that the Richnmond Hill Historical Society was trying to get the place preserved "It was really, really an institution" says Nancy Cataldi, the president. (we know that here on Roadfood, right?)

Nick Moukas, who runs the olny remaining Jahn's (in Jackson Heights) says that the #1 revenue is from food now, since Ben & Jerry's, B&R's, and Cold Stone have take the franchise for store bought ice cream (so no one goes to an "ice cream parlor" anymore to sit down and chow down, just "fast-food ice cream", He also claims that most ice cream is bought in a supermarket.

The article says that Jahn's once has outlets in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Long Island and Florida, and that most Jahn's were strategically located next to movie theatres. "25 or 30 yrs. ago, on your first date, you'd go to the movies and get ice cream"..."If you speak to anyone in their 50's or 60's who grew up in Queens or Bklyn and ask them about Jahn's , they's get a smaile on their face and tell you about it...they's day "I had my first birthday there"

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:20:29 GMT

Glad you enjoyed it. I have a couple of clients in the Rockaways; one on B 20th a few doors south of The Strand and one on the bay side of 75th. Sorry we didn't get a chance to 'meet up' recently; I always enjoy your recollections. Maybe next time.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:20:45 GMT

Kozel----U R FANTASTIC

These pictures and stories are wonderful. We lived in a nice big house on
Muhlbach Court off Beach 19th St in Far Rockaway from 1934 til 1940. My
father was a conductor for the LIRR and I traveled all over with a pass because
of his job. Even went to Brooklyn by myself to see the beloved Dodgers at Ebbets Field.
Went to the World's Fair in 1939 and 40 by myself--being only 12 years old was no big
deal because I had been on my own traveling since I was 5 1/2. That's the way it was then.

In the Far Rockaway segment they show the RKO Strand where I saw
lots of movies but the one most remembered is Alexander's Ragtime Band. My brother
and I came out of the theater into the hurricane of 1938, the worst ever to hit LI.
We made it home through downed trees and power lines. Scary.

In the Rockaway Beach portion they show the Park Inn on Bch 116th St. Next to it
was the Park Inn Baths where I was taught to swim by a runner up to Johnny Weissmuller
for the Olympic 100 yd freestyle championship. I would ride my Schwinn from Far Rock
to Rockaway on the boardwalk----5 miles each way and both ways up hill !!!

It was during the depression, and my father had a good job but with 5 kids we were
still broke. It was a great place to grow up. On Mulhback Ct we had Italian, Jewish,
German and Irish all together and right over an old wooden fence was a small apartment
house where a number of "colored" families lived. All us kids played together and
never knew we weren't supposed to like each other. My best friend was Albert "Fats" Rosen.

------Thank you so very much, the memories are re-kindled.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:08:04 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by the ancient mariner

I remotely remember going to a remote area of NYC called Far Rockaway.
Even more remote than Jackson Heights and Middle Village.
The Rockaways were on the LIRR then and I went there because I lived
there,I understand from what you say that it is now part of the subway system.

When I was a kid---we moved when I was 14----it was a wonderful place
to live. A little remote but accessable and right on the ocean.
Ah! the breeze was lovely, except a very low tide !!!!

From Forgotten...

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/borderlinefarrock/farrock.html
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/rockaway.beach/rockbeach.html
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/Alleys/rockawayalleys/rockbeach.html
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/edgemere/edgemere.html
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/endofqueens/bridge.html

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:52:25 GMT

I remotely remember going to a remote area of NYC called Far Rockaway.
Even more remote than Jackson Heights and Middle Village.
The Rockaways were on the LIRR then and I went there because I lived
there,I understand from what you say that it is now part of the subway system.

When I was a kid---we moved when I was 14----it was a wonderful place
to live. A little remote but accessable and right on the ocean.
Ah! the breeze was lovely, except a very low tide !!!!

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:38:14 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by flattop5

Have not seen a mention of the Jackson Heights Jahn's, located on 37th Ave. between 81st and 82nd Streets -- south side of the avenue.....anyone remember? For the non-locals, Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in north-central Queens, which, with all due respect to The Ancient Mariner (see first post) is NOT "a remote part of New York City"....it's actually quite accessible!

If you had read the link I posted to Forgotten, you would have seen that Kevin states the last remaining Jahn's location is Jackson Heights. Go there while you can.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:28:38 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by the ancient mariner

Brother Kozel--

$2 for the subway is tough when you have to take it into work and back 5 days a week.
Where is my calculator ??
Hey, thats $20 a week-----

One thing they did do was eliminate the 2 fare zones. If you live in Glendale for example, and need to take a bus to the subway paying 2 fares, you only pay one fare now. These remote (I'll use the word remote) areas were always more desirable because the cost to live there kept some of the less 'desirable' people out. Now the only extra cost is in time spent on multiple conveyances and the transfers. I think they also eliminated the extra fare levied on the subway to the Rockaways.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (flattop5)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:52:00 GMT

Have not seen a mention of the Jackson Heights Jahn's, located on 37th Ave. between 81st and 82nd Streets -- south side of the avenue.....anyone remember? For the non-locals, Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in north-central Queens, which, with all due respect to The Ancient Mariner (see first post) is NOT "a remote part of New York City"....it's actually quite accessible!

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:40:11 GMT

Brother Kozel--

$2 for the subway is tough when you have to take it into work and back 5 days a week.
Where is my calculator ??
Hey, thats $20 a week-----

I think William Buckley had the right idea years ago when he ran for Mayor. Yep WB ran back in the 60's. One of his thoughts was to make the subway completely free---eliminating every employee except the engineer and the maintainence dept. Also eliminate a bunch of cops who have to stand and watch for turnstile jumpers. The cost of running the subway would be added to corporate taxes. All the fancy companies who want a NY City address, the Stock market and all the businesses who make money in NY would have an extra few dollars a year added to their tax bill and people would "ride forever 'neith the streets of NYC" with not a turnstile in sight.

I don't think Mike Twill and the Union liked his idea. I think that was when Lindsey was elected and he and Beame raised taxes and fares anyhow !!!!

I wonder where the furnishings of Jahn's went. That route would be interesting to follow---find out where it ends up !!!

I know a Kevin Walsh, but I don't think he is the same guy. You are 1000% correct though, that site is a great place to spend hours and hours. I gave my brother the name and address of Forgotten so get in touch with Kevin Walsh and get your commission. Have fun.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:26:59 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by the ancient mariner

thanks Kozel---------I wonder how many kids went through the entrance
door skinny and came out fat ???

By the way that is a fun site that you linked us to---Forgotten NY.
I loved the Times Square area when I was a kid----NY City was a great
place to be able to get to for a nickel subway ride. How many hours
did I stand in line to see Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey, Benny
Goodman, Harry James, Martin and Lewis etc. etc.----I wonder?

Forgotten is the brain child of Kevin Walsh and I've been a fan for years. You can lose an entire weekend digging through his site. He also published a book and does an occasional walking tour.

I grew up in Middle Village and it was a short bus ride to Richmond Hill. We'd go to Jahn's all the time. It's a sad day.

Oh Mr. Mariner, the subway fare is now 2 bucks and the MTA is seeking an increase.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (albinoni)

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:06:44 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by chickenwingking

There was a Jahn's on Hempstead Tpke in Levittown by the Levittown roller rink (which sadly has also been gone for years). It was near the Meadowbrook movie theatre which was one of many magnificent big old movie theatres that went to multiplex and has now sadly been gone for a couple of years. The Levittown Jahns operated until at least the late 70's because I remember driving there for a year or two after I graduated from High School in '75. My favorite was the Double Wallop chocolate ice cream soda. I once downed two of them at one sitting!

As a kid growing up in Levittown, we used to drive by this place all the time, and I finally got to go there for the first time when I was in the 5th or 6th grade. I think I had a Joe's Sent Me, but secretly wanted a Kitchen Sink.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:58:57 GMT

thanks Kozel---------I wonder how many kids went through the entrance
door skinny and came out fat ???

By the way that is a fun site that you linked us to---Forgotten NY.
I loved the Times Square area when I was a kid----NY City was a great
place to be able to get to for a nickel subway ride. How many hours
did I stand in line to see Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey, Benny
Goodman, Harry James, Martin and Lewis etc. etc.----I wonder?

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:00:59 GMT

It looks like the Richmond Hill location has closed. Nice article on Forgotten-NY

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SLICES/jahns/jahns.html

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (peterj)

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:09:11 GMT

Wow - what great memories! My Jahn's was in Flushing NY. The BEST were the black and white ice cream sodas - vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrpu, soda - yum.. It was an absolute treat when I was a kid. Loved the booths.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:04:29 GMT

On the first picture you can barely make out the marquee of the RKO theater next door. Hillside ave ends (or begins) right near the intersections of Jamaica, Myrtle & Lefferts in Richmond Hill. The site those thumbnails are from is www.queenspix.com and they have quite a trove of photos arranged by 'town'. They are a commercial site and the photos are for sale.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (MacTAC)

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:53:00 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by rongmtek

Those pics are very reminiscent of "my" Jahn's, on Hillside Ave. in New Hyde Park.
In fact, the url for each of rthese pics includes "hillsideave". Hillside Avenue was (and still is) a main east-west artery; was the Richmond Hill Jahn's actually on Hillside Ave.?
Anybody?

Ron

Yes Ron, it's a couple of hundred feet from it's western terminus at Jamaica Avenue. I went to your NHP Jahn's at least once and many, many times to my Jahn's, East Meadow next to the Roller Rink. Very sad these places are gone. I have been to the sole survivor, Richmond Hill at least three times in the last year. Glad it's still here...

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (the ancient mariner)

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:28:04 GMT

thanks Kozel----when thinking of Jahn's I often think that if it wasn't for the Lindy
and other great dances of the time I would have doubled my weight from those great sundaes.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (rongmtek)

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:17:20 GMT

Those pics are very reminiscent of "my" Jahn's, on Hillside Ave. in New Hyde Park.
In fact, the url for each of rthese pics includes "hillsideave". Hillside Avenue was (and still is) a main east-west artery; was the Richmond Hill Jahn's actually on Hillside Ave.?
Anybody?

Ron

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (kozel)

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:18:55 GMT

For Mr. Mariner and others who remember the Richmond Hill location...

http://www.queenspix.com/rhthumbnails/117_03hillsideave_jahn0004.jpg
http://www.queenspix.com/rhthumbnails/117_03hillsideave_jahns_2.jpg
http://www.queenspix.com/rhthumbnails/117_03hillsideave_jahns_3.jpg
http://www.queenspix.com/rhthumbnails/117_03hillsideave_jahns_4.jpg

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (vwgto)

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:56:29 GMT

There was a Jahn's on HWY 4 in Paramus NJ. I also remember the "kitchen sink". Jahn's was a special trip for many HS kids after dances and such in the 70's.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (zeitgeist)

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:34:13 GMT

I remember going to Jahn's as a kid, back in the early 70s. Sometimes the family, sometimes just my Dad would take me. I do remember the dark wood booths, the metal containers that ice cream sundaes and splits were served in. The waiters who had the soda-jerk outfits with hats.

One of the interesting things I remember, which has not been brought up, was the very unique artwork on the walls. They were caricature-like people, if I recall. I remember having dreams about them as a kid.

In an interest to find a similar parlor to take my kids to, I had googled this for nostalgia. But for some reason I had remembered it has Hahn's (not Jahn's) and didn't find anything. Sadly, such parlors just aren't easy to find. Miami, I think, does still have a Swenson's - which is about the last vestige of an old-style parlor.

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (chickenwingking)

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:49:16 GMT

There was a Jahn's on Hempstead Tpke in Levittown by the Levittown roller rink (which sadly has also been gone for years). It was near the Meadowbrook movie theatre which was one of many magnificent big old movie theatres that went to multiplex and has now sadly been gone for a couple of years. The Levittown Jahns operated until at least the late 70's because I remember driving there for a year or two after I graduated from High School in '75. My favorite was the Double Wallop chocolate ice cream soda. I once downed two of them at one sitting!

RE: Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor (Ruby Red)

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:19:44 GMT

The Jahn°s in Richmond Hill is still there.I had lunch there a few years ago and was unimpressed by the food,the snooty waitress and the darkness.We didn°t try the ice cream,but since it is close to home,I°ll go and try it.Hopefully it will be as good as ever!