Sheboygan's beloved Zurheide Ice Cream was founded 100 years ago
The ice cream plant on Michigan Avenue has sat vacant since 2023
SHEBOYGAN — Zurheide Ice Cream Company was long part of Sheboygan's history and joined a list of products no longer made in the Bratwurst Capitol of the World.
In 1925, Arno W. Zurheide and his wife Sophia opened Zurheide’s Ice Cream in their home. They would then open an ice cream parlor at 926 Michigan Avenue in 1927. Today, the building is home to Elegant Ink Studio. In 1941, Zurheide then opened Arno's Dairy Bar one block east at 814 Michigan Avenue. It closed in 1959 and reopened as Dairy Dell in 1963.
The storefront closed in 1965 and the company focused solely on producing products and selling them in grocery stores such as Piggly Wiggly. In 1984, the company completed a renovation project that changed the facade of the building and improved the neighborhood’s appearance.
Zurheide’s plant produced nearly two million gallons of ice cream annually. Citing skyrocketing costs, the company closed and ended production in April 2008. Founder Arno Zurheide passed away at age 95 in 1996 and his son John Zurheide passed away at the age of 82 in December 2017.
Three Twins to High Road
After Zurheide Ice Cream closed in 2008, the 10,000-square-foot plant on the Michigan Avenue Strip was put up for sale and sat vacant until 2013. California-based Three Twins Organic Ice Cream purchased the building to open a second production plant. The building underwent an exterior refresh, removing the European Village facade. In 2019, the company closed its California plant and shifted all production to the Sheboygan plant.
Due to COVID-19, Three Twins closed the plant in April 2020.
In November 2021, Georgia-based High Road Craft Ice Cream, Inc. purchased the facility and began production of craft ice cream. In September 2022, PMC Financial Services Group purchased the company for $12 million. By June 2023, the company ceased operations.
The building, now owned by Nathan Taylor of Kohler, is currently vacant and listed for sale. The asking price is $585,000. Taylor also owns the former EBCO Building on Erie Avenue that was condemned earlier this year.
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