Charles Kocher's Ice Cream Parlor at 72 South 28th Street (a remembrance)

In April 2009, Charles Kocher III shared a remembrance of his family's ice cream parlor at 72 South 28th Street, at the corner of Mickle Street.

28th and Mickle were my Grandparents. In the late 1940s my grandfather worked for the owner of the store and lived in the middle of the block. Later he bought the store. He was awarded Breyer's bonus for selling the most loose ice cream. They actually placed freezers for him in the basement at their cost to sell more. He would stay open until the last person was served. 10 cents a dip. They had nasty names for him like “bug foot Charlie” and “Thumb Print Charlie” from attempting to keep the ice cream on the cone. For a pint you got a gallon and for a dime you got almost a pint on a cone. Even on Christmas he felt obligated to keep the store open for the neighbors. My grandmother came over for a couple of hours and then my grandfather came over to keep the store open.

He sold the store and the new owner changed to another brand, raised cones to 15 cents and lost the store.

I remember my dad (Charles Kocher Jr.) laying new asphalt tiles along the candy cases from the long line. Soda was in water and you had to know your caps! When it was time for me to attend middle school, the Board of Education moved Junior High classes to Davis for me. I had been looking forward to eating lunch at my Pops.

He moved to Hillside Avenue in later years and kept all of Saint Joe's carnival equipment in his garage and that paid his yearly taxes. Quite a business man! My dad was a police lieutenant and decided not to buy the store.

— Charles Kocher III, April 2009