48 small batch ice creams produced daily | 3946 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 493-6553
(650) 493-6553
Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream first opened in 1956 in the same exact
location it stands today by Rick Payne.
Since then it’s had several other owners, each adding to the quality and selection of ice
cream flavors served. The second owner, Greg Haagenstrom, was a chef and added
some of the most loved “rather rich” flavors that Rick’s is known for today. Greg used
to joke that he had over 400 flavors, but was out of 375 of them at any given time.
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Operating Rick’s is the fulfillment of a dream.
| In 2002, now-owner and Chief Richness Officer, Gary Schoen’s, long-time dream of owning an ice cream shop came true. Back in high school Gary worked at Mary Coyle Ice Cream, a gourmet shop that made ice cream with a 16% butterfat mix, in Phoenix, AZ. He loved it and told his guidance counselor that he wanted to own an ice cream shop when he grew up. Fast-forward to 2001 and the dream was still alive. Gary decided to attend an ice cream making school in North Carolina to study under Luciano Ferrari, a world renown expert in frozen desserts. Gary had planned on opening up his own ice cream parlor, but when Rick’s, a Palo Alto institution, became available in 2002, Gary jumped on the opportunity. |
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He bought Rick’s Ice Cream and immediately got to work. He made operational
improvements, spruced up the store with new signs and wall graphics, and added the
parlor room to accommodate more eat-in customers year round. And of course, he
expanded the selection of flavors further, increasing it to 48 delicious and rich flavors.
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Rick’s is the mixture of new and old: While still using many original recipes, Gary can’t stop experimenting with new ones too.
Still using many of the most popular original recipes such as Salty Caramel, Industrial Chocolate and Coffee Molasses Chip, Rick’s team is always cranking out new flavor
experimentations too. Some of our most recent newbies are: Mint & Cookies, Chocolate Malt Balls, and
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We have an increasing selection of cupcakes and cookies.
We also can’t resist the occasional baked goodie, so in addition to ice cream we make beautifully decorated ice cream cakes, handmade ice cream cupcakes, ice cream whoopies, cookies, brownies and pies.
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Nowadays, you can find Rick’s at our ice cream shop in Palo Alto, catering a local party or event, or even on the dessert menu at a local restaurant!
Are you a restaurant owner who’d like to feature a specialty flavor from Rick’s? Conact us. We do trades sales to local restaurants, hotels and other outlets.
Since Gary Schoen bought Rick’s in 2002, we’ve been featured in Gourmet Magazine, VIA Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Oakland Tribune, The Paly Voice, Evening Magazine, The Palo Alto Weekly and more.
Accolades
“Exotic flavors rule in this congenial parlor, but even such complexities as White Chocolate Ginger and Saffron Pistachio engulf you foremost with their creaminess." —Gourmet Magazine
"Made in-house, Rick's frozen yogurt and ice creams are indeed notoriously rich, and the small-business intimacy of the store is the cherry on top." —Palo Alto Weekly
We cater events!
Perfect for large corporate events and parties, we do the set up, scooping and cleanup.
Extremely affordable at only $5-6 per person.
Everyone loves ice cream
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