About
Our History
Whitey’s Ice Cream has been named “Best in the
Midwest” according to the readers of Midwest
Living Magazine. Our history offers clear insight
into the way we operate.
Whitey’s Ice Cream was established on the corner
of 16th Street and 23rd Avenue in Moline in 1933
by Chester “Whitey” Lindgren, who was so nicknamed
because of his white-blonde hair. In 1935, Whitey
hired a fifteen year-old boy named Bob Tunberg,
who worked for Whitey throughout high school and
on and off for several years. Whitey and Bob
became close friends, and in 1953, Whitey offered
to sell the business to Bob and his wife, Norma.
Bob and Norma made ice cream during the day, and
they worked in the store selling their product at
night. As soon as sons, Jeff and Jon, were old
enough, they joined the “family business,” picking
up trash in the parking lot before they went to
school each morning. Working with and observing
their father through the ensuing years gave them a
strong sense of the value of hard work and great
customer service. Today, Jeff and Jon work side-
by-side as Co-Owners of the company, and the
title, President, remains open in honor of their
father, “The Quad-Cities Favorite Ice Cream Man,”
who passed away in 1991.
Whitey’s Ice Cream remained a one-store business
until 1977, when a second store was opened on 41st
Street in Moline, IL. Gradually, the
manufacturing facility and offices were relocated
to this larger location. This first step in
Whitey’s Ice Cream growth had proven successful,
and the Tunbergs didn’t wait another forty-four
years before they opened another store. In 1982,
stores were opened in East Moline, IL and Rock
Island, IL. The Mississippi River was crossed in
1984, when a store was opened in Bettendorf, IA.
Since then, another store was opened in Moline, IL
at Southpark Mall, three stores have been opened
in Davenport, IA, including one at Northpark Mall,
one store was opened in downtown Iowa City, IA and
another was opened at Coral Ridge Mall in
Coralville, IA. Additionally, Whitey’s has
maintained a retail stand at The Mark of the Quad
Cities since it opened for business in 1993.
In 1988, Whitey’s Ice Cream saw a dramatic change
with the addition of a Wholesale Department and
entrance into the grocery store market. This
allowed Whitey’s Ice Cream packaged ice cream to
be purchased from many more outlets. The
Wholesale Department currently distributes to
grocery stores and schools in a one hundred mile
radius. Furthermore, Whitey’s Ice Cream is now
available to the entire country through on-line
ordering. Our ice cream can be sent anywhere in
the continental United States via FedEx simply by
accessing www.whiteysicecream.com.
Over the years, a number of innovations to the
industry were born at Whitey's Ice Cream,
including high powered malt machines, which make
extra thick shakes and malts that can be turned
upside-down, candy bar shakes, Splenda® sweetened
No Sugar Added ice cream and chocolate chip cookie
dough ice cream, to name a few.
Whitey’s Ice Cream belongs to a number of
organizations, including the International Dairy
Foods Association, the National Federation of
Independent Businesses and the Fellowship of
Companies for Christ International.
The Tunbergs credit the success of Whitey's Ice
Cream to a quality product, a clean environment,
fair prices and a knowledgeable, friendly staff.
At Whitey's Ice Cream we strive to create a great
experience for the customer from the moment he or
she enters the parking lot until the very last
bite is gone. That is why our customers are so
loyal and why, “When ice cream comes to mind,
people come to Whitey’s.”
Whitey's Ice Cream is committed to excellence in
its field. We are dedicated to manufacturing and
marketing superior quality ice cream and related
products. The consumer is placed first in every
decision. Whitey's is determined to maintain
integrity and an unfailing commitment to quality
and value. We will operate our business in a
manner consistent with our moral convictions and
faith in Jesus Christ.