General Info

History Who could have known back in 1938 that opening an ice cream store in a pair of trolley cars would be the start of a family business that would carry through generations and start family traditions that have touched the lives of many Cincinnatians, as they return year after year for that silky-smooth taste of a Putz's creamy whip. Coming out of the Depression that financially ruined many Americans, Constantine and Anna Putz decided to take a leap from selling pies and baked goods door to door, to opening a small store selling these items. Within a couple of years, they took an even bigger leap and opened Putz's, an ice cream business, with their daughter Gertie and her new husband, Ray Ehrhardt. They sold hand-dipped ice cream, three scoops for a nickel, out of two streetcars at 4166 Spring Grove Avenue near Chambers Street. For ten years, their business continued to grow despite floods, one of which totally covered the streetcars, and the down times of World War II. In 1948, however, things took a turn for the worse. Ray's appendix burst and he became seriously ill. Putz's would close. It didn't stay closed very long. In 1949, Ray and Gertie re-opened Putz's on Prout's Corner at Glenway Avenue and Cleves-Warsaw in Price Hill. They did okay there for a couple of years, but were looking for a place of their own. Some place they could buy a piece of land and build a building to suit the needs of their new venture in the ice cream market ' the soft serve creamy whip as it's called today. Ray wasn't too sure about buying the lot down in that hole as he called it, but every time he said no, Gertie said, I'll take it. Needless to say, the move proved to be a sweet success. By this time, their son, Raymond A., had become the third generation to help operate the family business and two years after the new store was opened, his new wife Lillian joined the group too. As they began the business in their current location at the foot of Mt. Airy, a new era had begun. Ray and Gertie brought in their two new Electro-Freeze ice cream machines, that the family swears, is what separates their ice cream from all the other creamy whips in the area. Believe it or not, these two machines that were purchased in 1954 and 1955 are still in full time operation today. In order to help establish themselves in their new location, Putz's advertised the same special for 15 straight years to open the season, Buy one and get one for one cent. At that time, cones were 5 cents to 25 cents, sundaes were 15 and 25 cents, sodas were sold for 20 cents, and milk shakes and malts were 25 cents. A banana split with three dips, syrup, fruit, whipped cream and nuts was 35 cents. Their advertised special was such a success that after those first 15 years Putz's advertising has all been done by word of mouth. For most Putz's customers, a trip for ice cream brings back some fond childhood memories, as they bring their children down to the store and look through the windows at the same Electro-Freeze machines that served them as kids. By the late 1960s, most of the customers were calling Ray and Gertie, Grandma and Grandpa Putz. People would bring their entire family down and sit at the picnic tables in the maple grove behind the store eating their preferred summer treat and enjoying the day. As the decade came to a close, however, Putz's got some news that threatened to close the business again. They had already been through road closings on several occasions and would survive many more in the years to come, but this was something that many thought they could do nothing about. The I-74 expressway and its right of way was planned to come within three feet of their back door. Most people would have just accepted the fact, figuring you can't fight the federal government, but not Lil Ehrhardt. She wrote a letter to President Nixon on September 9, 1971, explaining how Putz's supported two entire families and that the planned right of way line would ruin their bus