Dewar's Ice Cream and Fine Candies
Dewar's Candy Shop
IndustryRestaurant
Genreice cream parlor
Founded1909 (1909) in Bakersfield, California, US[1]
FoundersJames H. Dewar
George Dewar
Headquarters1120 Eye St. Bakersfield, California[2],
United States
Number of locations
3[1][3]
Websitedewarscandy.com

Dewar's Candy Shop is a family-operated ice cream parlor and candy shop in Bakersfield, California. Originally founded in 1909, it has occupied its location across from Bakersfield High School since 1930.[1][4][5] The shop specializes in making ice cream, taffy chews, chocolates, and other products.[4][6][7][2]

History

James H. Dewar and his brother George Dewar, who were both from Kansas,[8][1] founded the Chocolate Shop in 1909[9] which was located at 1665 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield, California.[5][4] At the shop, they created the popular peanut butter taffy, and in 1911, added the peppermint version of the taffies.[8] James, who bought George's part of the business,[1] eventually moved the shop to 948 Baker Street. In 1928, the family moved to Ventura, California for a small period of time and started another shop there.[5] They later moved back to Bakersfield and received an offer to help build the current location at 1120 Eye Street in 1930.[5][4] Around this time James Dewar started creating and distributing ice cream at his shop.[5][3] In 1947, James' son, James A. Dewar, took over the shop with his brother Joe Dewar.[5][4]

A bowl of Dewar's Ice Cream

In 1977, James A. Dewar's son, George, took over the shop. George's son, Michael, started working in the business by overseeing the manufacturing of the Dewar's taffies.[4][5]

Enlargement of the business

Michael's daughter, Heather, started a new Dewar's location at 9530 Hageman Road, but it was eventually closed in 2011 to make way for a new location at 2700 Calloway Drive.[5] 2012 saw the opening of the Dewar's Express, a drive-through version of Dewar's Ice Cream.[5][4] In 2019, another flavor of Dewar's taffies, Almond Butter, was released.[10] As of 2019, there are 23 flavors of ice cream served including English Toffee, maple nut, and peanut butter fudge,[6][9]

Since the 2010s, Dewar's hosts the "Cupid's Challenge", an annual fundriser for the Mendiburu Magic Foundation, a local charity.[11][12]

Recognition

As of 2005, Dewar's ice cream was sold at the Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store in Hollywood.[13] Food critic Jonathan Gold said in 2011 that

"Dewar's is the best old soda fountain in the state, and even if it didn't make the world's best nut chews... I would still go there for the thrill of seeing the counterwoman tamping the ice cream into sundae goblets in a way that makes the marshmallow crème spurt out the sides."[14][2]

Dewar's Candy Shop and their taffy chews have been featured on the Food Network, as well as in the "Highly Recommend" column of Bon Appetit.[10][1] At the shop, a letter framed on the wall from football player Frank Gifford reads in one section, "I love my peanut butter chews."[7][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Andrew Pridgen (December 11, 2022). "How a Wonderful Californian confection became an international favorite". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Jason Kotowski (July 6, 2022). "Berry Popular:Strawberry Milkshake tops in California". KTLA.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Dewar's Ice Cream becomes one of CSUB athletics' exclusive concessionaires". learfield.com. June 29, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dewar's 114 year history". dewarscandy.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Dewar's Candies & Ice Cream Parlor". visitbakersfield.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Joshua Lurie (June 3, 2007). "Dewar's Candy Shop:Desserts and Decor". foodgps.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Confectioner lover's paradise in Bakersfield". Los Angeles Times. March 3, 2002. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Lisa Kimble (April 30, 2016). "The name from which Dewar's Ice Cream came from". bakersfield.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Charles Fleming (May 20, 2019). "The Trip to Basque Country". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Alex Pastron (October 28, 2019). "More Likely than not, I've got one of These in my pocket". bonappetit.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Mayer, Steven (February 13, 2020). "Mendiburu foundation raises funds in exchange for Dewar's chews at annual challenge". The Bakersfield Californian. ProQuest 2354012522. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via ProQuest.
  12. ↑ "Mendiburu Magic Foundation hosts annual Cupid's Challenge fundraiser at Dewar's Candy Shop". KGET-TV. February 13, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Swenson, Steve E (June 23, 2005). "Dewar's goes Hollywood". The Bakersfield Californian. ProQuest 461718103. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via ProQuest.
  14. ↑ Jonathan Gold (February 17, 2011). "Dewar's and the Bakersfield Basque Country". Los Angeles Weekly. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
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