Madison, Wisconsin · Since 1962

The History of Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream

One little shoppe on Monona Drive, two generations of Deadmans, and more than 60 years of super-premium ice cream.

How it all began

A bit of happiness on Monona Drive

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company began in 1962, when Chuck Sr. and Nancy Deadman decided to open their very own candy and ice cream shoppe. Their vision was to provide the community with a bit of happiness by serving homemade candy and ice cream.

They held the philosophy that quality lies at the heart of every marvelous treat shoppe, and with this, Chuck Sr., master researcher, tinkerer and perfectionist, set out on a mission of making the best ice cream he could. After countless batches of ice cream, and tweaking and adjusting machinery, he came up with his own original, super-premium ice cream flavors to offer at their shoppe, located on Monona Drive in Madison, Wisconsin.

Founders Chuck Sr. and Nancy Deadman
Founders Chuck Sr. and Nancy Deadman
Manufacturing plant in 1985

We’ve come a long way

From one shoppe to scoop shoppes nationwide

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream today
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream on Atwood Avenue

After more than 60 years of continued innovation, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company now encompasses ice cream parlors across the Madison area and a manufacturing plant in Madison, Wisconsin.

The manufacturing facility produces super-premium, award-winning ice cream flavors, and supplies independent restaurants and scoop shoppes nationwide.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream today
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream on Atwood Avenue

A timeline of events

Six decades, one scoop at a time

The moments that made us who we are.

1962

Chuck Sr. and Nancy Deadman open their own ice cream and candy shoppe on Monona Dr., introducing the community to their homemade, super-premium ice cream.

1963

Excitement builds over the ice cream. Senior and Nancy open a few new shoppes and move their production to their first, one-room ice cream kitchen on Milwaukee St.

1964

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream on State St. opens for the first time, which now stands as the company’s oldest and most iconic shoppe.

1976

Senior and Nancy’s oldest son, Chuck Jr., returns to help prepare batches of the company’s unique, super-premium ice cream.

1979

Demand outgrows production capacity, and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream builds the current manufacturing plant on Madison’s east side.

1990

Senior and Nancy’s youngest son, Dave, joins the family company to grow wholesale partnerships with small, independent businesses.

2001
Cult favorite

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream perfects and releases their first-ever batch of their now cult favorite, Zanzibar® Chocolate ice cream.

2002

Under the core value of creating treats that everyone can enjoy, including the founders’ lactose-intolerant grandson, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream releases its first line of vegan desserts.

2013

For the first time, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream can be found in small businesses in the majority of states in America — 26 in all.

2022

The manufacturing plant expands to include a mix pasteurizing and processing room, and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream partners with the Baerwolf family to use milk from the pasture-raised cows of Sassy Cow Creamery.

2023
Award

Strawberry Hibiscus Italian Ice wins Non-Dairy Flavor of the Year from the North American Ice Cream Association.

2025

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream can now be found in 41 states in America.

2026

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream opens two more shoppes in the Madison area, located at the brand new Madison Public Market and the Hilldale Shopping Center.

2026
Award

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream takes home its 3rd Grand Champion award from the World Dairy Expo with its Yippee Skippee® Flavor.

Dave, Chuck Jr., and Chuck Sr. Deadman
Dave, Chuck Jr., and Chuck Sr. Deadman

Still in the family

The legacy continues

Dave, Chuck Jr., and Chuck Sr. Deadman
Dave, Chuck Jr., and Chuck Sr. Deadman

Chuck Sr. and Nancy are both “retired,” although you’d be hard pressed to find a day when Chuck Sr. couldn’t be spotted at the manufacturing facility or one of the area shoppes.

Today, the company thrives under the leadership of the second generation of Deadmans, Chuck Jr. and Dave Deadman. Chuck Jr. and Dave proudly uphold the same commitment to quality and community that served as the foundation for that first little shoppe on Monona Drive.

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Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
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