History

In 1912, Door County merchant pioneer, Al Mickelson, built a special place for Sister Bay residents and visitors to purchase food and enjoy ice cream treats. The store became known as a source of local information in addition to excellent food and service. Today, the tradition lives on in the Door County Ice Cream Factory and Sandwich Shoppe.

Al Mickelson’s General Store remained in operation under different ownership and a different name (The Beach Road Market) when it finally closed its doors in 1988. After remaining vacant for 4 years, John Blossom, Jr. and his son John Blossom III purchased the building just up the road from the family summer cottage with dreams of turning it back into a destination for residents and visitors alike. It was on this premise that The Door County Ice Cream Factory was born. John Blossom III, or Jay, as he is more commonly known, would make all the ice cream in an old Emery Thompson batch freezer. After a few years of ice cream production and serving homemade sandwiches, Jay decided to add pizza to the menu. In 1999, Jay decided to sell the business to a then employee at the Ice Cream Factory.

In April of 2000, Jay and his father sold the Door County Ice Cream Factory to Todd Frisoni, who at 21, needed some help from his parents to secure the financing. Eleven years later, Todd is still at the helm with no plans to move on. “I love the ice cream business and I love Door County,” Todd stated in a recent interview. Todd is married to Erin, a nurse, and has two children. His son Leo will turn 4 in June and daughter Silvia was born in May of 2009. Now entering its 99th year, the old Al Mickelson Store, now known as the Door County Ice Cream Factory is sure to make more history, with new flavors being added and new friends made every year. The Frisoni family hopes that you love your visit to the Door County Ice Cream Factory and Sandwich Shoppe.