When Sherman’s Dairy Bar wrapped up the season last fall, there were many concerns that they might not be back, but ice cream fans should fear not. As we reported earlier, Sherman’s crafted a partnership this winter with Hudsonville Ice Cream and will still be an absolute destination attraction in the community of South Haven. However, their return will be a bit later than usual this year.
Sherman’s Dairy Bar officials say that they will be back open for the 2020 season, but not until May 1st this year. The delayed spring opening will allow them to continue updates and upgrades to their space at 1601 Phoenix Street in South Haven both inside and out.
Owners posted on their Facebook page, “Mark your calendars! Sherman’s Dairy Bar will be back open for the 2020 season on May 1, with our beloved original recipes available to make your summer extra sweet. We’re currently making updates to the space and can’t wait to welcome you home to the Dairy Bar very soon!”
Coming in the renovations are bright new quarters, new signage and more.
Sherman’s ice cream has always been made the old fashioned way – many flavors, and always one batch at a time, for ice cream that is loaded with flavorings – big strawberries in the Strawberry, lots of pecans in the Butter Pecan, and hunks of fudge in the Mackinac Island Fudge.
Their ice cream has always been defined as “Richer and heavier than most standard ice creams, but not too much like the expensive heavy bodied super premiums. It’s so good and creamy that people usually want that second scoop.”
Hudsonville Ice Cream will produce Sherman’s Ice Cream from the original recipes at their Holland production plant. Sherman’s will post their full lineup of flavors to be hosted at the South Haven dairy bar in the spring.
As the Sherman family tells the story, Grandpa Sherman started the business back in 1916. He had a small herd of dairy cattle and delivered milk with a horse drawn wagon from house to house around South Haven.
The business flourished through the years as Grandpa Sherman passed the business on to his son Rupert, who in turn passed it on to his boys. One of the boys, Port, always had it in his mind to make something good tasting that would make people happy – ice cream. So in the 50’s he started fiddling and fussing with an old ice cream batch freezer, trying to make the best ice cream around.
Port wanted an old-fashioned ice cream – not one too light or too greasy. He loaded it up with natural flavorings – no need to cheapen the product by using artificial flavors. After he got it just the way he wanted it, Port started selling it, first house to house, then to ice cream stores and finally grocery stores.
Meanwhile, Port bought out his brothers and stopped bottling milk stating confidently, “We’ll just make good ice cream.” The rest is history. Delicious history. It returns on May 1st. Stay tuned.
The photo of Sherman’s Dairy Bar in South Haven accompanying this story on Moody on the Market is courtesy of Sherman’s Dairy Bar.
