Thrifty Ice Cream

Bear Down Vegas · Post by **Bear Down Vegas** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:39 am

Spurred from another thread.

Thrifty Ice Cream is pretty close to as cheap as it gets & in my opinion (probably because it moved me at such a young age) it's the best ice cream going. Period. Not close.

I'm particularly fond of Chocolate Malted Crunch. It's close to the most perfect thing there is. I have great memories of walking to the shop in Arroyo Grande, CA to get it with my grandparents when I was a child in the 80's, but I enjoy going to the only greasy gas station in town that sells it almost as much. Easily one of my favorite things.

Hyperbole out of the way - I figured we could get some conversation going on decent ice cream/joints/etc...all apologies if it's been started/done.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:43 am

Bear Down Vegas wrote:Spurred from another thread.

Thrifty Ice Cream is pretty close to as cheap as it gets & in my opinion (probably because it moved me at such a young age) it's the best ice cream going. Period. Not close.

I'm particularly fond of Chocolate Malted Crunch. It's close to the most perfect thing there is. I have great memories of walking to the shop in Arroyo Grande, CA to get it with my grandparents when I was a child in the 80's, but I enjoy going to the only greasy gas station in town that sells it almost as much. Easily one of my favorite things.

Hyperbole out of the way - I figured we could get some conversation going on decent ice cream/joints/etc...all apologies if it's been started/done.

It vanished for years and years and then came back again, right? Is it the same as I remember from my childhood? If so, that's damn good ice cream. Do they still serve it in cones and cups somewhere like they used to in the Thrifty drug stores? I'll see if I can find it in the midwest or else get some when I'm on the west coast.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:44 am

Cheap? Cheap?

Why, don't get me started you young whipper snapper!

Even when I moved to CA for the first time in 1976 a triple was still only 25c.

And oh so good! Chocolate brownie was my favorite, although I haven't had it in 10 years or so.

Machina · Post by **Machina** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:52 am

BDV, I have a huge craving for Thrifty now that I can't have the one that was talking distance from my house. Anywhere I could get Thrifty in Vegas that is close to the strip?

Post by **UAdevil** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:52 am

Thriftys are EVERYWHERE in Mexico. Like every other corner in towns like Roxky Point, Ensenada, TJ, Chihuahua City. Rocky Point has over 10

Bear Down Vegas · Post by **Bear Down Vegas** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:54 am

Yes Long - it's exactly the same - assuming you get in the right place. There also places that only sell it out of a white/generic carton.

There's a spot in Wickenburg that still sells it out of the same plain vanilla cone from decades ago. Makes for a great place to stop between cities.

I remember my grandma liked it so much because it was like a buck & a half to get all of her g-kids a cone...haha

Seriously, if Starbucks can go global - Thrifty Ice Cream sure as hell should.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:55 am

UAdevil wrote:Thriftys are EVERYWHERE in Mexico. Like every other corner in towns like Roxky Point, Ensenada, TJ, Chihuahua City. Rocky Point has over 10

Last time I was in Rocky Point like 20 years ago, they only had local ice cream that you were nervous about the water they dipped the scooper in to clean it.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:56 am

Bear Down Vegas wrote:Yes Long - it's exactly the same - assuming you get in the right place. There also places that only sell it out of a white/generic carton.

There's a spot in Wickenburg that still sells it out of the same plain vanilla cone from decades ago. Makes for a great place to stop between cities.

I remember my grandma liked it so much because it was like a buck & a half to get all of her g-kids a cone...haha

Seriously, if Starbucks can go global - Thrifty Ice Cream sure as hell should.

That's awesome. We had a little league coach that took our whole team out to ice cream, and we though he was cheap for taking us to Thrifty. But I didn't judge him on the inside, just on the outside. I loved the stuff.

Bear Down Vegas · Post by **Bear Down Vegas** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:57 am

Machina wrote:BDV, I have a huge craving for Thrifty now that I can't have the one that was talking distance from my house. Anywhere I could get Thrifty in Vegas that is close to the strip?

I only know of two - neither close to the strip sadly.

The best one is actually a shop called "Sweet Addiction" where a ma & pop shop have partnered with them & they bake cookies to pair with the ice cream. Brutally dangerous.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:22 pm

Machina bringing up Thrifty ice cream is by far the best contribution he has ever made to these boards.... And I'm being completely serious.

Love Thrifty Ice cream, wish there was 1 in Tucson

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:34 pm

Bear Down Vegas wrote: I have great memories of walking to the shop in Arroyo Grande, CA

Forgot to add, hi neighbor!

This is the best place now for ice cream now in AG: http://docburnsteins.com/

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:47 pm

Ever had McConnell's? Everybody in Santa Barbara loves it. A real home town tradition. And it's awful, awful ice cream.

Bear Down Vegas · Post by **Bear Down Vegas** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:53 pm

Sadly, I only get to go to the central coast Oceano/Pismo/SLO once every other year or so now. It's where my mother was raised & comes from but so many of that side of the family are gone so it's very few & far between. Do love it though. You live in a pretty great spot Merk.

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:58 pm

Thrifty Ice Cream is sold in Lake Havasu City at, of all places, a water store.

Some damn fine shaved ice to be had there, too. Just have to take Havasupai up the hill to the Smith's shopping center, as it's about a mile up the hill from the highway.

Mom would get some every time they'd come and visit from out of town. Personally, I enjoy the out-of-the-way places that have Dole Whip, but still, always a special find.

Machina · Post by **Machina** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:01 pm

catgrad97 wrote:Thrifty Ice Cream is sold in Lake Havasu City at, of all places, a water store.

Some damn fine shaved ice to be had there, too. Just have to take Havasupai up the hill to the Smith's shopping center, as it's about a mile up the hill from the highway.

Mom would get some every time they'd come and visit from out of town. Personally, I enjoy the out-of-the-way places that have Dole Whip, but still, always a special find.

It was a water store that sold hot dogs, nachos and Thrifty. Again it was a nasty fire but hopefully they had insurance and will rebuild soon.

Bear Down Vegas · Post by **Bear Down Vegas** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:09 pm

Funny Lake Havasu story from last month. I found out last minute I was going to the Fiesta Bowl so I got up at 5am & was driving. There was so much snow in Kingman that my car was actually stranded for a few minutes while I nervously wondered what was going to happen. Word from the ADOT was the roads were really bad in the Kingman/Wick/Flag triangle so I detoured and added the time & went through Lake Havasu/Quartzsite to get to the game. Barely made it in time.

I would have LOVED this info for a quick stop on New Years Eve!

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:10 pm

Machina wrote:
catgrad97 wrote:Thrifty Ice Cream is sold in Lake Havasu City at, of all places, a water store.

Some damn fine shaved ice to be had there, too. Just have to take Havasupai up the hill to the Smith's shopping center, as it's about a mile up the hill from the highway.

Mom would get some every time they'd come and visit from out of town. Personally, I enjoy the out-of-the-way places that have Dole Whip, but still, always a special find.
It was a water store that sold hot dogs, nachos and Thrifty. Again it was a nasty fire but hopefully they had insurance and will rebuild soon.

We have one of those right around the corner from us at 35th Ave and Thunderbird. Laundromat, water, and ice cream.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:28 pm

Thrifty Pistachio at the Rite Aid in Terra Linda, San Rafael CA.

Love it.

In re UofA · Post by **In re UofA** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:47 pm

I second the Sweet Addiction recommendation. The Green Valley Pkwy location isn't too far from my house, and they seve a great cookie/ice cream combo.

PHXCATS · Post by **PHXCATS** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:24 pm

Rainbow Cone in Chicago. Best there is,

Post by **UAdevil** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:09 pm

azgreg wrote:
It was a water store that sold hot dogs, nachos and Thrifty. Again it was a nasty fire but hopefully they had insurance and will rebuild soon.

We have one of those right around the corner from us at 35th Ave and Thunderbird. Laundromat, water, and ice cream.[/quote]

I have some friends that grew up right there. 2 blocks north of Tbird on Dailey St. Their folks still live there.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:06 pm

Memories: Thrifty's, Swensen's, Farrell's.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:04 pm

Swensen's and Farrell's don't make me hope the 70s come back.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:12 pm

gumby wrote:Memories: Thrifty's, Swensen's, Farrell's.

A couple Farrell's have reopened in the LA area.

NorCalCat · Post by **NorCalCat** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 11:23 am

http://www.eater.com/2014/1/6/6304553/s ... -francisco

This is among the top 5 things I have ever put in my mouth.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 12:30 pm

NorCalCat wrote:http://www.eater.com/2014/1/6/6304553/s ... -francisco

This is among the top 5 things I have ever put in my mouth.

Looks heavenly. I once invented an ice cream with bourbon, sweet corn, and pieces of crisply baked cornbread. I loved it. I called it "corn ice cream" and brought it to a party, where everyone pronounced that it "sounds gross". Only one person tried it, and claimed to dislike it, but I think it's because he made a face as he went to take a small bite. You can't taste anything properly if you make a disgusted face before you try it.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:46 pm

Longhorned wrote:Swensen's and Farrell's don't make me hope the 70s come back.

I was a kid. What kid is discerning about ice cream?

Frybry02 · Post by **Frybry02** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:51 pm

UAdevil wrote:
azgreg wrote:
It was a water store that sold hot dogs, nachos and Thrifty. Again it was a nasty fire but hopefully they had insurance and will rebuild soon.
We have one of those right around the corner from us at 35th Ave and Thunderbird. Laundromat, water, and ice cream.

I have some friends that grew up right there. 2 blocks north of Tbird on Dailey St. Their folks still live there.[/quote]

Small world! I grew up in the same area! Went to high school at Greenway. Still live in the same area just south of ASU WEST now

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:07 pm

Water N Ice in Glendale carry Thrifty Ice Cream.
http://glendalewaternice.com/thrifty-ice-cream/

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sun Feb 15, 2015 9:12 pm

I grew up eating ths Ice Cream.

MrBug708 · Post by **MrBug708** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:07 am

My wife loves the Circus Cookie Ice Cream

When I was back east last summer, we had some of Rita's Water Ice, which wasnt too bad either.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 9:11 am

It's funny that I love ice cream and I've never been in Cold Stone Creamery even though there is a number of them here.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:49 am

azgreg wrote:It's funny that I love ice cream and I've never been in Cold Stone Creamery even though there is a number of them here.

I tried it for the third and final time in 2003. Bad ice cream, bad concept.

Reydituto · Post by **Reydituto** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:25 pm

Longhorned wrote:
azgreg wrote:It's funny that I love ice cream and I've never been in Cold Stone Creamery even though there is a number of them here.
I tried it for the third and final time in 2003. Bad ice cream, bad concept.

And now presenting the Governor of Great State of Arizona, Doug Ducey!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:36 pm

Snobs in every thread. Scotch, Beer, Wine, I can see. But ice cream? Such discernment!

We were happy to get ice milk.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:59 pm

gumby wrote:Snobs in every thread. Scotch, Beer, Wine, I can see. But ice cream? Such discernment!

We were happy to get ice milk.

Snobs for Thrifty?

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:09 am

Just throwing a bone to the hoi polloi. You're the RockyRaccoon of dessert.

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:29 am

While you guys work toward a bi-partisan ice cream consensus, I'll be over in Palm Desert enjoying a strawberry Dole Whip.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:15 am

I'll be in Dateland. Making a date shake. (It's all in the tongue).

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Mon Jul 25, 2022 6:23 pm

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Mon Jul 25, 2022 6:48 pm

Gumby, Reydituto and Catgrad97!

Guess eating ice cream is a bad trait to stay on this board.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Mon Jul 25, 2022 7:18 pm

I've been meaning to try one for 40 years. Now I missed it.

I have a Thrifty Ice Cream in my neighborhood, though.

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Tue Jul 26, 2022 11:59 am

Longhorned wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 7:18 pm I've been meaning to try one for 40 years. Now I missed it.

I have a Thrifty Ice Cream in my neighborhood, though.

Same, I've never had a choco taco

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Tue Jul 26, 2022 6:10 pm

Isn’t there Thrifty Ice Cream at Price and Mountain?

I could swear I’ve seen the sign there for years.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:02 pm

Never seen a Thrifty Ice Cream shop anyplace.

But Rite-Aid, formerly Thrifty's, still sells the Thrifty branded cones. No longer 25 cents for a triple though, which was what the price was when I first moved to California in 1976. And people complained about that, since they were used to paying a nickel for a single, a dime for a double and 15 cents for a triple.

Now

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:04 pm

There's a Thrifty Ice Cream on the 2nd floor above the food court at Tucson Mall.

Also a lot of the Water & Ice places in strip malls have Thrifty Ice Cream.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:24 pm

There's a Thrifty Ice Cream on Speedway and Wilmot in the Trader Joe's/Bubbies Bagles/Sachiko Sushi complex

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