The Bud’s Ice Cream store in Noe Valley was considered a mecca for ice cream lovers and aficionados during the 1970s. Situated right at the corner of 24th and Castro Street, Bud’s was the place to go for “premium” ice cream. As a kid, I remember standing in line for over an hour with my mother, in the fog, among countless other people, just for a scoop. The long wait and being bundled up was simply part of the experience, part of the ritual. And it was worth it! Bud’s made the best ice cream, and their sundaes were to die for, with rich, velvety chocolate syrup, whipped cream, bananas, and of course maraschino cherries!
Remember, these were the days before Haagen-Dazs, Ben and Jerry’s, and other “premium ice cream” brands that are now sold in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country. Back then, the only ice cream sold in markets were average products by Dreyer’s, Breyer’s, and the like, and the store’s brands themselves. You had to go to ice cream shops and parlors to get the better, homemade stuff. Competitors of Bud’s during that time included Mitchell’s, Swensen’s, St. Francis Fountain, and Double Rainbow.
Alvin Edlin bought the Noe Valley store in 1952 from his cousin, who was named Bud Scheideman. It was Alvin who turned the run-of-mill ice creamery into an icon. He positioned Bud’s as a superior product. Alvin decided to put the best ingredients he could find into the ice cream, loading chunky pieces of fruit and chocolate into every bite, and he didn’t skimp on the fat or calories. Every lick brought a smile to his customers. Besides the Noe Valley location, there were other stores found across the city.
In 1980, Bud’s was sold to a group of businessmen, which was then sold in the early 1990s to Berkeley Farms. Interesting note – the ice cream is also made under license in Bangkok by American Food Co. Ltd., and sold all over Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Though the Noe Valley location is long gone, the Bud’s legacy lives on through various ice cream parlor outlets and supermarkets around the country and parts of Asia.
While I lament the loss of Bud’s in Noe Valley (and all the others in the city), it’s heartening to know that Mitchell’s, Swensen’s, and St. Francis Fountain still remain. Perhaps because San Franciscans are epicureans, they do love their ice cream. People still line up for a scoop at Mitchell’s. Even in the cold and fog.
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Don’t forget Polly Ann out in the Sunset! It’s moved at least once, if not twice… but it’s still in the same neighborhood as it’s always been. 🙂
Im having a teeny problem. I cant get my reader to pick-up your rss feed, Im using aol reader by the way.
Let’s not forget pat lydon who highly contributed to buds success … Bob Jule
A trip to Bud’s 30 minutes before closing was an experience I cannot forget– a quick (yet heated) car ride down the hill and then a frozen wait in line for a perfect scoop. many years ago and i don’t remember my favorite flavor but everything was fantastic.
Bud’s was the best. Really creamy. I remember the huge scoops that I could barely finish! It was such a treat to walk up the steep hill to get there – and stand in line. I don’t think any ice cream I’ve had today compare’s with Bud’s.
We also used to go to Polly Ann’s after a trip to the zoo. I loved all the weird ice cream flavors they had. And spinning the wheel because I could never make up my mind.
Yes, Bud’s was the BEST! Younger people don’t even know…..the banana’s in the Sundays were always sweet, ripe and never brown or bruised. Oh and the hot fudge was so rich, creamy and plentiful. Huge scoops of frozen creamy packed flavor. Sure do miss Bud’s……
I had Bud’s at the Noe location many times in the ’70s. Our local Grocery Outlet had a couple of flavors of Bud’s recently and I indulged. It brought back fond memories!
I haven’t thought of Buds and Al for years. Yes I miss the hot fudge sunday but most of all I miss Al who would always give us kids who lived around his shop a break and would also give me a large frosty for taking his deposit across the street to the BofA. He was always too busy to leave the shop and put everything into his product, he was there day and night making great ice cream in that old machine that served frostys to the masses. God bless you Al! you were an inspiration to all of us street kids on Jersey, Castro, and 24th street and thank you for giving some of us our first job. My memories of the 60s and early 70s will now always include Bud’s ice cream
I was stationed at The Presidio from 1975-1978. One of my favorite memories of The City was a weekly trip to a small ice cream parlor my wife and I “discovered”. It was Bud’s! It was either on or just off Geary. A triple scoop carton of Pistachio, Honeydew and Walnut ice cream was unbelievable.
Who remembers the “doggie scoop”? The little teeny cone with the teenier scoop? We used to shove as many people as we could in anyone’s car and go from Verducci Hall at CSUSF to Bud’s. We would be cramming for exams when someone would yell “BUD’S RUN!!!!” You could hear books slam closed as we tried to be one of the lucky few who actually scored a seat in a car, usually a VW Bug. We never had any money but you didn’t need it at Bud’s. The “store” was no more than a counter with a two deep waiting area. The ice cream was made by a bunch of “very relaxed” people in the back and the day’s flavors were dependent upon their whim du jour. When the ice cream was hard enough to be served, someone would rip off the side of a cardboard box, scratch the treat’s name with a felt pen and nail it to the wall behind the servers. Once that flavor was gone, so was the cardboard. Unfortunately, now these 40 some years later, I don’t remember my favorite flavor, BUT I do remember that if it was posted on the wall, it made the journey just that much sweeter. The ice cream was served in tall styro cups (32 oz???) and absolutely swimming in hot fudge. I was allergic to bananas so they would offer extra fudge sauce as a compensation. The wait in line was part of the fun and frankly, an excuse to be held by your boyfriend as he warded off the cold. As it turned out, I married the guy I went to Bud’s with in 1972….the ice cream had that much impact. What a sad, sad story to find it’s based in ASIA, but at least I have the memory.
Don’t forget Uncle Gaylord’s Ice Cream Parlour was at Market & Laguna. And it was kosher. Almost miss that more that Bud’s.
I remember Bud’s in the 1970s. My favorite flavor was bittersweet chocolate.
As a Noe Valley native from the ’50s, my impression upon tasting Bud’s ice cream again in ’70s with the long lines was that this was definitely real frozen cream and very possibility melted BUTTER included to make it even denser and rich. We always bought at Ole King Coles Ice Cream at 24th & Church for the Sherbets and not walking to Bud’s. In the ’70s I was making my own and it came out icy like Gelato or Old Uncle Gaylord’s on Market not that smooth buttery creamy lick of Bud’s with their cheesy buttery richness.
Going through my NY to SF hitchhiking journal of 1974, I came upon this line: “A couple of buses took us to Castro and 24th. There was just a short line at Bud’s, so we got a mixed pint of Dates & Honey and Lemon Chiffon.” That’s why I Googled Bud’s and found this site.
Growing up in Los Altos (circa 1980’s) my brother and I made countless bike rides into town to Bud’s Icecream. My absolute favorite: Bud’s Pie!!!!!!
We lived up the hill in Diamond Heights on Douglass in the 60′ and ’70s. Al loved children I remember him being so biiiiiiggg and jolly. We would get our Ice Cream then walk back up with Mom and Grandma to Douglass Playground for a picnic and have our Ice Cream FIRST, then our sandwiches!!!! Well, what was left of our Ice Cream from the two block trek from Bud’s to Douglass playground! Al “Bud” to us, was our hero when we were kids!!!
Mocha chip was my fave at Bud’s back in the late 60’s early 70’s. I remember Al saying that he made his best ice cream after an argument with his wife!
I guess I have to head to Thailand as soon as this pandemic subsides and travel there is safe! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
But can I buy BUD’S ice cream anywhere in San Francisco??????
I believe you can get a scoop at Inga’s Donuts on Hyde and California. You can get a bottle of Bud’s egg nog at Mi Reina on O’Farrell and Leavenworth.