Does anybody remember Picco Ice Cream?

[Razorrig]

My grandfather used to deliver for Picco Ice Cream. It was the best I have ever eaten. Anybody have any history/resources on the company. It was in Pittsburg, KS up until the early to mid 70's at least. Was either the Pittsburg Ice Co. (Pico) or the Pittsburg Ice Cream Co. (Picco)

[Kansas]

It was Picco. I remember it as the best Ice Cream you could get around here.

[Mike]

I grew up about a block for the Picco. They had a had a fountain where you could get malts, ice cream cones, fountain drinks, etc. Great ice cream.
They were the kind of local business that used to be such a vital element in our communities. The A. J. Cripe "Town Talk" bakery was another Pittsburg institution. Sad to see them go.

[Charlie]

Razorrig wrote:

My grandfather used to deliver for Picco Ice Cream. It was the best I have ever eaten. Anybody have any history/resources on the company. It was in Pittsburg, KS up until the early to mid 70's at least. Was either the Pittsburg Ice Co.(Pico) or the Pittsburg Ice Cream Co.(Picco)

I think the family that owned Picco was the Tustin Family. Charles Tustin. A lady that worked there in the fountain was Gladys. She raised a bunch of "Lakeside" kids in that place. I would always get a cherry phosphate or orange sherbert.

[Barbwire]

I loved PICCO chocolate chip. I've never found another like it.

[Pat]

I remember as a kid in the late 50's, my grandpa used to sell his cream from the cows to Picco for their ice cream. We lived 8 miles south of Pittsburg and it was a treat for grandpa to take me to town when he sold the milk, eggs and cream to his customers in Pittsburg. After we made our rounds, he always took me to Picco for an ice cream... my favorite was their vanilla. It was sooo good! Never had anything like it since then!

[Cheryl]

I moved to Pittsburg in 1986 and Picco was still open. I think they closed a year or two later. But, did they have the best ice cream? We lived about 2 blocks from there. What I miseed the most is their egg nog. I don't think I have ever tasted any better anywhere. What a loss for those kinds of businesses to close.

[Mark]

I was born in Pittsburg, and lived about 4 blocks from Picco.. We moved away when I was about 5 but the place had already made such an impression on me, that when a friend and I drove back to visit , after graduating High School, it was one of the first places we went.. and everything came right back.. the smell and the taste were at least as good as I remembered. In 50 some years I have never experienced anything that came so close to living up to the memory as Picco did.

[Abbey]

My grandparents actually owned the PICCO and still to this day, people stop them in public and comment how it was the best they ever had! It is great to see that the memory still lives on in so many people just as it does for our family. I was pretty young, but I remember helping my grandpa fill the ice cream cups as it came out of the machine. Thank you for your kind words, I will pass this along to them!

[Peg]

i used to go there a lot when i was a kid. we would go on hot summer nights and have their chocolate malts. have never found any better anywhere :)

[Julie]

I loved PICCO! My cousin and I walked from her house on Euclid street every weekend to share a banana split! I still drive past there and tell my kids about the best ice cream you could ever get!

[Becky]

What a coincidence Julie! My cousin and I also spent a lot of time at PICCO and I also lived on Euclid Street. Not only did we spend time there but I started working at PICCO when I was attending school at Lakeside Jr. High. I worked until I graduated from Pittsburg High School. It was the one job I actually LOVED. The owners, Charles and Beverly, were WONDERFUL people and taught me a lot about the business. I especially enjoyed learning to make the most beautiful ice cream roses, baby shoes and etc. I don't think I've seen anything like them since. Many years later I returned to Pittsburg after having moved away, only to find PICCO had closed down. It was a sad moment for me and I wish I'd been able to purchase a piece of memorabilia from those days. Now I too drive by and share my memories with anyone in the car who'll listen.

[Justin]

Abbey wrote:

My grandparents actually owned the PICCO and still to this day, people stop them in public and comment how it was the best they ever had! It is great to see that the memory still lives on in so many people just as it does for our family. I was pretty young, but I remember helping my grandpa fill the ice cream cups as it came out of the machine. Thank you for your kind words, I will pass this along to them!

Please email me an address to mail them or you [e-mail] or email me so we can exchange some information about PICCO. Thank you.

[hearnu]

Kansas wrote:

It was Picco. I remember it as the best Ice Cream you could get around here.

YES It was the BEST ice cream. My sister use to bring some home. It did not las long though.

[Chris-]

Ha! I also lived on Euclid. I would walk down as often as my parents would let me... in fact, some ice cream sounds sooo good right now.

[Allen]

I remeber picco as well what a place. I played baseball on a team they sponsored. Good times.

[Gloria]

Do you have any pictures of pico? I would love to have some.

[Sandy]

Wow, what memories this brought back! I lived on West Adams for many years and we would walk to PICCO for an ice cream treat. My son seemed to always come in with a pint of his favorite chocolate chip ice cream, but he wouldn't share it. The closing of this family business was a sad day. I felt the same way when they tore down the Tower Ballroom.

[Sandy]

I don't know why this posted me in Liberal, Mo when I live just outside of Pittsburg.

[Mimrose]

You should try and talk your family into publishing a cookbook of their ice creams and sodas! I know I would love to have the recipe for the chocolate chip ice cream, no matter what the cost!

Abbey wrote:

My grandparents actually owned the PICCO and still to this day, people stop them in public and comment how it was the best they ever had! It is great to see that the memory still lives on in so many people just as it does for our family. I was pretty young, but I remember helping my grandpa fill the ice cream cups as it came out of the machine. Thank you for your kind words, I will pass this along to them!