We Know Our Sources: Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Indulge in a scoop of Mitchell’s Ice Cream and you might find it hard to believe that the creamy frozen treat on the end of your spoon came to life over a family dinner with a finance professional and philosophy major.
Believe it or not, that simple meal is what sparked the more than two-decade legacy of Cleveland’s own Mitchell’s Ice Cream!
Maybe you know Mitchell’s from their delicious, and often unique, assortment of ice cream flavors, or maybe you’ve visited their flagship Ohio City shop and kitchen, or maybe you’ve simply picked up a pint from the freezers at Heinen’s to enjoy a bowl at home! No matter how you know Mitchell’s, we think it’s safe to say that few things beat this hometown treat!
Actually, we know it’s safe to say because our Cleveland customers voted Mitchell’s Ice Cream their favorite locally-made product in 2019! To celebrate their local legacy, we met up with Mike and Pete Mitchell and their team at their Ohio City shop and kitchen to get the inside scoop on this iconic Cleveland-made dessert!
Where it all Began
After discovering a shared passion for ice cream over dinner, brothers Mike and Pete Mitchell threw caution to the wind and opened the first Mitchell’s Ice Cream Shop on the west side of Cleveland in October of 1999.
Just one year later, the news of this new locally-made ice cream quickly made it’s way to our buyers and, without hesitation, Heinen’s became the first grocer to feature Mitchell’s Ice Cream pints!
In Pete’s words, “This was such an exciting time for us because Heinen’s was this established, iconic, treasured Cleveland company and a brand that we grew up going to grocery shop with our mother. Now we had this opportunity to work with Heinen’s in a small way.”
Making it Big in Cleveland
Over time, Mitchell’s Ice Cream shops began popping up in neighborhoods all over Cleveland. As their popularity grew with the local community and retailers like Heinen’s, so did their need for a larger kitchen!
Knowing that they wanted to be in the heart of Cleveland, the brothers quickly fell in love with the inherent character and charm of the 100-year-old building that is now their flagship shop and kitchen on West 25th Street in Ohio City.
In this new building, Mitchell’s team of ice cream experts set up shop (literally) for people in the Ohio City and downtown Cleveland area to enjoy a scoop or two of their delicious dessert, but more importantly, this historic building is where every ounce of ice cream is made for all of Mitchell’s shops and retail partners.
As if making ice cream in a century-old building wasn’t cool enough, Mike and Pete have gone above and beyond to make this location as sustainable as possible through building chairs out of recycled materials, harvesting rainwater and installing solar panels.
All About Flavor
Once they had a sustainable spot to produce their ice cream, the focus at Mitchell’s shifted to flavor development.
Over the years, Mitchell’s has made ice cream with just about every ingredient imaginable, and while not every flavor was a winner, their adventurous spirit has certainly paid off. From traditional flavors like Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk and Butter Pecan to unique seasonal flavors like Lavender Honey and Wild Berry Crumble, Mitchell’s is all about thinking outside of the pint when it comes to flavors.
No matter what flavor fills your cup, cone or pint, you can be assured that every batch of Mitchell’s Ice Cream is handmade by their team of experts to achieve perfect texture and flavor in every bite.
Clevelanders at Heart
Although making ice cream sounds like the best part of working for Mitchell’s, for Mike, Pete and their team, their true joy comes from having a positive impact on the greater Cleveland community.
Whether it’s working with local farmers in North East Ohio, partnering with local grocers like Heinen’s, or serving a scoop over the counter to a local family, at its core, Mitchell’s is all about bettering the community through the power of ice cream. Yet, no matter how much they grow or how fast their “ice cream express” moves, as Mike would say, their hearts, and pints, will always be in Cleveland!
