Isaly's
Isaly's () was a chain of family-owned dairies and restaurants started in Mansfield (Richland County), Ohio, with locations throughout the American Midwest from the early 20th century until the 1970s. It is known today for its chipped chopped ham and for creating the Klondike Bar ice cream treat, popularized by the slogan "What would you do for a Klondike Bar?" History The company was founded by William Isaly, grandson of Swiss immigrants who settled in Monroe County, Ohio, in the 19th century. By the early 1960s, the company boasted retail outlets that stretched from Pennsylvania to Iowa. Isaly's early success was attributed to its loose company structure, which allowed for easy expansion without corporate overhead. William Isaly's first dairy was established in Mansfield, Ohio, where he acquired the Mansfield Pure Milk Company. Isaly expanded the core business from processing milk for sale to other grocers, to operating his own retail stores with milk, ice cream, bread and lunch counter service. Isaly also pioneered the idea of the modern convenience store by opening at least one outlet that also sold gasoline to motorists. The first expansion of the business took the company to Marion, Ohio, after acquiring the Marion Pure Milk Company in 1914. Operated by Charles Isaly, the Marion operation was quickly modernized, and business grew accordingly. From Marion, the company expanded to Youngstown, Ohio, and by 1918 had a dairy and new headquarters on Mahoning Ave. The Youngstown area was the largest Isaly's market, boasting at one time almost 130 stores. In 1929 they expanded to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (on the Blvd. of the Allies). Expansion continued through the 1930s and 1940s with additional dairies built from Columbus, Ohio (at North High Street and Arcadia Avenue) west to Iowa and 310 stores. Pittsburgh residents regarded Isaly's so highly that the company was and still is mistakenly considered a Pittsburgh original. In its advertising, the dairies used the mnemonic phrase "I Shall Always Love You Sweetheart" to help with the spelling of the Isaly's name. In Marion, Ohio, Isaly's fielded an amateur basketball team that played against the Buffalo Silents – a team composed of deaf/mute players and LaRue, Ohio-based World-Famous Indians with Jim Thorpe. In the 1930s, Isaly's began a commercial building program that employed high style art deco / Art Moderne designed production facilities and retail outlets, most of which were designed by architect Vincent (Shooey) Schoeneman. The Youngstown dairy facility represented the apex of this project, with the streamlined building (with exterior by architect Charles F. Owsley) dominated by a five-story glass block tower. In addition to the Klondike Bar, the dairies were also known for their Skyscraper Cones, created in Youngstown by plant supervisor Sam Jennings which eschewed round ice cream scoops, instead using a patented design that resulted in a long, inverse-cone-shaped dip. The company also had great success in selling chipped chopped ham, sliced (shaved) razor-thin for sandwiches. The sandwich was featured on the PBS special Sandwiches That You Will Like. The company also marketed