Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe is a historic

ice cream parlor Ice cream parlors (American English) or ice cream parlours (British English) are parlor that sell ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and/or frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is typically sold as regular ice cream (also called hard-packed or hard- ...

on Johnston Street in Lafayette,

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

, built in 1940 to sell Borden

ice cream Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...

s. In 1981, then owner, lifelong Lafayette resident Flora Levy, died. Her will stipulated a large bequest, including the ice cream parlor, to the

University of Louisiana Lafayette The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, University of Louisiana, ULL, or UL) is a public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus University of Louisiana Sys ...

's Foundation. The Foundation held the title to the building and rented the space to the manager who continued to operate the business. The building had been passed down from generation to generation in the Levy family; Flora had received it from her mother. In May 2009, the Foundation sold the store to Lafayette Red's

health club A health club (also known as a fitness club, fitness center, health spa, weight room and commonly referred to as a gym) is a place that houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise. In recent years, the number of fitness an ...

owner

Red Lerille Lloyd "Red" Lerille (June 9, 1936 – March 14, 2025) was an American bodybuilder. A New Orleans native, he was the winner of numerous bodybuilding titles, including Mr. New Orleans in 1955, Mr. Armed Forces and Mr. Hawaii in 1958, Mr. Dixie in 1 ...

, who bought the property with the intention of keeping the local icon alive in Lafayette. Lerille plans to slightly renovate the building, adding a drive through window and outdoor seating. Lerille's daughter Kackie Lerille will manage the store. Lerille was quotedUL Foundation Sells Borden's Ice Cream Shop to Lerille Family
at Raginpagin, 2 May 2009 as saying that he is interested in mom-and-pop type businesses like the ice cream store. "I believe it is the American way, but it is dying fast. This location is actually the last Borden’s retail ice cream shop in the United States. It is a Lafayette tradition and my daughter and I fully intend to bring it back to its original state." Ella Mae Meaux—who had worked in the parlor for 48 years by the time it was sold to the Lerille Family—said, "Generations of family have come to Borden's for the old-fashioned ice cream parlor experience. This sale to the Lerilles ensures families will be able to continue with this experience for many years to come."

Business management

Borden's had been run by General Manager Wayne Tucker. The business had rented the building from the ULL Foundation, with the rent being used to fund the annual Flora Levy Lecture Series at the University. The proceeds from the sale of the building will also be placed in a trust to continue the aforementioned lecture series.

References

External links

* {{Borden, Inc. Borden (company) Restaurants in Louisiana Privately held companies based in Louisiana Economy of Lafayette, Louisiana Restaurants established in 1940 Buildings and structures in Lafayette, Louisiana Tourist attractions in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana 1940 establishments in Louisiana