Homer's Ice Cream

Homer's Ice Cream is a family-owned ice cream parlor and full-service restaurant in Wilmette, Illinois, on Chicago's North Shore. According to the company, restaurant owner Gus Poulos crafted his first batch of homemade ice cream in 1935, and the resulting flavor quickly became popular across the North Shore. What started as a tiny two-table parlor at 1237 Green Bay Road grew into a local institution; more than eight decades later, the same address remains the home of Homer's Ice Cream. The shop evolved from a two-table operation into a full-service restaurant and ice-cream parlor while keeping its old-fashioned production methods. Homer's describes its ice cream as "super-premium," made with up to 16% butterfat, slow-churned, and produced with generations-old recipes. The menu spans more than 60 flavors across ice creams, yogurts, sherbets, sorbets, and toppings, including seasonal creations such as Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Peach, and Black Raspberry. Beyond ice cream, Homer's serves a food menu of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, and fries, and offers milkshakes and other treats. Homer's remains proudly family-owned and operated by the Poulos family, preserving founder Gus Poulos's legacy. It serves both local customers and fans from around the world, with dine-in, carryout, and delivery service at the original Wilmette location, and pints shipped nationwide. The business positions itself as a Chicago tradition since 1935 and a North Shore institution, with a nostalgic, community-oriented character that has kept generations of families returning.

Homer's Ice Cream traces its origins to 1935, when restaurant owner Gus Poulos crafted his first batch of homemade ice cream in his small Wilmette, Illinois restaurant. According to the company's account, the ice cream was rich, dense, and unlike anything Chicago had tasted, and word spread quickly through the North Shore. The tiny two-table parlor at 1237 Green Bay Road filled with neighbors eager for a scoop, and the operation soon became a local legend. As demand grew, the two-table shop evolved into a full-service restaurant and ice-cream parlor. Despite the expansion, the company says its core approach never changed: each batch is still made the old-fashioned way, slow-churned, high in butterfat, and made with the finest ingredients and generations-old recipes. The Poulos family continued Gus Poulos's legacy, preserving the quality and charm that made Homer's a North Shore institution. More than eight decades after its founding, Homer's remains at its original Wilmette address at 1237 Green Bay Road. The business describes itself as proudly family-owned and operated, serving both locals and fans from around the world. Its "super-premium" ice cream, made with up to 16% butterfat, is still handcrafted in Wilmette and shipped nationwide. The menu has grown to more than 60 flavors across ice creams, yogurts, sherbets, sorbets, and toppings, alongside a food menu of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, and fries. Seasonal creations such as Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Peach, and Black Raspberry keep the offering changing through the year. Families who once came as children now bring their own kids and grandkids, carrying on a local tradition built on flavor, community, and care.

• 1935

  Restaurant owner Gus Poulos crafts his first batch of homemade ice cream in his small Wilmette, Illinois restaurant.

• 1935

  The tiny two-table parlor at 1237 Green Bay Road becomes a popular local destination on Chicago's North Shore.

• The two-table shop evolves into a full-service restaurant and ice-cream parlor as demand grows.

• Homer's remains at its original Wilmette address more than eight decades after founding, still family-owned and operated.

• Homer's begins shipping its handcrafted super-premium ice cream nationwide.

A nostalgic, family-owned Chicago North Shore institution serving super-premium, old-fashioned homemade ice cream and casual food since 1935.

• Super-premium homemade ice cream

  Slow-churned ice cream made with up to 16% butterfat and generations-old recipes.

• Ice cream, yogurt, sherbet and sorbet flavors

  More than 60 flavors across ice creams, yogurts, sherbets, sorbets and toppings.

• Seasonal flavors

  Seasonal creations such as Pumpkin Pie, Fresh Peach and Black Raspberry.

• Milkshakes

  Milkshakes including a coffee chip flavor highlighted by customers.

• Food menu

  Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, french fries and sides.

1. 1Homemade Ice Cream, Shakes, Burgers & More | Homer's Ice Creamhomersicecream.com
2. 2About Us | Homer's Ice Creamhomersicecream.com