Sunday, June 7, 2015

PHOTOS: Locals Remember Gruning's Ice Cream at Durand-Hedden


Maplewood, New Jersey: Maplewood's Durand-Hedden House and Garden hosted an event about Gruning's Ice Cream on Sunday afternoon. Gruning's was a small Newark-area chain of ice cream parlors, and their locations in South Orange and Maplewood were community institutions. One location was in Downtown South Orange where the Boccone South Restaurant is now, and another was on South Orange Avenue in Maplewood where The Top condominium tower is now located. Gruning's also operated locations in Short Hills, Caldwell, Plainfield, Parsippany, Newark's Roseville section, and Montclair. Attendees included local residents, members of the Gruning family, and former Gruning's employees. Fudge sauce made from the original Gruning's recipe was served to attendees, and Gruning's memorabilia and menus were on display. Gruning's products were manufactured in South Orange until the chain closed in 1991. Local 'Top of the Hill' menu items included the "Newstead Banana Split", "The Village Idiot", "The CHS 'Couple of Hot Surprises'", named for Columbia High School, "The SHU 'Strawberries Heated Up'", named for Seton Hall University, the "Erie 'Lick and Want Some More'", named for the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, and "Top O' The Clock", named for the South Orange Village Hall Clock Tower.

















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