Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor, MI is with out a doubt THE best place to get ice-cream. Started in 1934, it is a legend in Ann Arbor, MI. It is owned by two partners Jim Smith and Doug Raba, and many of the employees have been there for 30-40 years.
Jim, one of the owners born in 1952, can remember his dad making the ice-cream and milk. Horses use to bring the milk to the dairy in 10 gallon cans and it was homozenized on the spot. 
In 1976, the volume was too demanding so they sold or "farmed" out their recipes to Stroh's Ice Cream and Prairie Farms, a farmer's co-op to handle the production.
Nestled in a neighborhood, known as The Old West Side, it is a landmark and legend in Ann Arbor. The building is NOT remodeled and maintains the ambience of the neighborhood ice-cream parlor of years gone by.
Located at 602 S. Ashley, it is only a few blocks from down-town Ann Arbor, and close to the University of Michigan Stadium. Close enough to Pioneer High School; you will often see many teens there during the day. Neighborhood families will walk to the dairy and sit and enjoy the outside benches. Anyone who has ever lived in Ann Arbor, makes it a stop on there return visits.
There is usually a line to get in, but no one seems to mind. The employees are warm and friendly and will let you try as many flavors as you want.
Washtenaw Dairy, is known for their HUGE SCOOPS, of ice-cream, with a single being the equivalent of a double in most ice-cream places. My favorite is the Swiss Almond Chocolate, with tons of almonds throughout it. But, there are sooooooooo many yummy flavors to choose from, it's hard to choose.
Washtenaw Dairy takes you back to your childhood, with outrageously good ice-cream, creamy and rich. When I want my clients to experience a "flavor" of Ann Arbor (no pun intended) we always stop by Washtenaw Dairy for an ice-cream cone to get our blood sugar up as we continue the search for the home they will fall in love with. 
An Ann Arbor institution, 70 years in the business, back when horses brought the milk in, huge scoops, ambience of yester-year, great employees and THE Biggest SCOOP around what more could you want?
Washtenaw Dairy is open 7 days a week from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. If you anywhere near Ann Arbor, take the time to visit this old-fashion ice-cream parlor. You will be glad you did. Oh, did I mention they also have fresh donuts made daily? No, well that's for another day.
You can even buy a T-Shirt. 
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Missy
That scoop of chocolate ice cream looks way too good! Forget the shirt, I want a waffle cone. The kind that gets really sticky as it drips all over the place before you can finish it.
Missy, I mean Ann.... ;o) Some of the employees have been there for 30 to 40 years? Wow... that says a lot right there. I like the fact that they haven't changed the face of the establishment. And I can why another reason that they do some good business is because there is a high school and a college nearby. I guess when I visit someday, you'll have to take me there.
Okay...you win! Now I want ice cream. My favorite is macadamia nut brittle or macadamia nut/coconut ...mmmmmm. That scoop looks HUGE. Good...that's the way it's supposed to be.
Ed, they make waffle cones too. Ha, yea they are sticky.
Jeff, I would love to buy you a cone when you visit Ann Arbor. Missy
Sally, it is such a great place to take people. Actually most of the time I get kiddy cones and it is enough.
Hey - My newsletter is called The Real Scoop! That just gave me an idea. I could ask my readership to forward me pictures of which ice cream place beats them all! I'll post the winner in my blog. -Great Post!
Oh my goodness! Missy I was there approximately 3 years ago. 3 girlfriends and I spent the day in your area and one of them mentioned the "best" ice cream parlor and raved about it. Naturally what else do 4 women do when we hear "best" and "ice cream" in the same sentence?
Thank you for the walk down memory lane :-)
Missy,
Great blog about the local ice cream joint and a nice entry for Chris's contest. I need to get down to ours this week - should make the kids happy!
Okay Missy I think I am going to go get some ice cream now.
Paul, great idea !!
Kris, it was good wasn't it ? Call me if you in Ann Arbor.
Rita, go make those kids happy !!
Mana, glad it made you want some.
I don't understand why I have to wait until I'm in the area to make the trip...why can't I just make the trip for the ice cream. It sounds reasonable to me.
Ice cream is my favorite food group and I am convinced that Rockey Road has everything I need to survive.
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR®
Mission Grove Realty
I can send some on dry ice, what is your wife's favorite ?
Yum! I love ice cream. Living where it is so hot, I love the cool treats to refresh yourself! Now I know where to go in Ann Arbor for the same great goodness!
My first job was at a Peter Pan Ice Cream Store. Your post brought back lots of memories of that. You really develop some good arm muscles scooping that ice cream.
It looks like a great place!
Great post - I hope you sent them a link so they can see the great way you featured them. I am from the Kalamazoo area and there is one of these "best place to buy ice cream" places in Plainwell and every time I am there to visit my parents, we go there. Brings back a lot of memories of growing up and our special evening outings to get ice cream - in fact I was known for my ability to live on ice cream along.
Mmm. Ice cream! Washentaw Dairy sounds like THE place to go for ice cream. I wish I had some now. :)
My most favorite dessert - ice cream. The building look wonderful, even after all these years. Makes me want to take my hubby for a drive to the local ice cream store! Nah! Too late. Maybe tomorrow.
Mmmmmm............we had one like this in Phoenix. Always busy and served like a 15 scoop sundae for sharing. It was fun just to see one of these delivered to the tablw. Course, you had to take the whole team!
Missy,
I love reading posts like this on the treasures of small businesses around town. Thanks for sharing.
Missy sounds like a great place! Being located on Ashley I can remember where it is if I get to Ann Arbor again!
I recall going to a similar place as a child - it was so great - I bet this one is wonderful
Missy, I definately will call you when I head that way again. I would enjoy meeting you.
Leah, I love it too !! But, don't endulge too much. Some of our ice-cream places close in winter in MI. Have you ever ?
Marchel, building muscles, welll that is one way to look at it.
Cathy, I have fond memories of my dad and I getting ice-cream at night and driving to the river in Ky. It was peaceful. I will print it and take it to them or send a link in a couple of days.
Stephanie, :)
Kay, thanks for stopping by.
Paula, a 15 scoop Sunday sounds heavenly.
Lynda, I love small businesses too, they are a dying breed. We have lost several in Ann Arbor over the years so it makes this one so special. The employees, young and old are fantastic.
Ashley, there is lots of nice stores on Ashley Street. So come on out. Someday when ABQ is HOT !!
Thesa, charming and fun !
Missy - I have noticed that the ice cream shop is a very important place in a commnity. You are also right that people down mind joining a long ice cream line. I like the part in your post about way back when the horse brough the milk.
Jennifer, amazing isn't it ? We use to not be able to buy milk in stores and gas stations.
Missy, this is GREAT. I love the original building. That's charm, right there. I can't believe how huge that cone is!
Thanks for entering the contest! Everyone who posted is welcome to join in. At worst, it's a great excuse to go out for ice cream!
Thanks, it was fun to do. Yea, at worst or best ???
Best? LOL
I'm here in my old stomping grounds in NY and we have places just like this we can visit. In Florida it is not the same. Great looking Icecream!
I'm such an ICECREAM JUNKIE!! I would have to visit this place regularly...and own a t-shirt! Excellent post...how about iceceam for breakfast now?!?! Sounds delicious to me!! Washtenaw Dairy sounds like the perfect place in Ann Arbor!!
Neal, have fun ! It's fun to visit places with fond memories.
Susie, what's your favorite flavor.
Way to go, Missy. You've totally scored with a great Localism post.
Missy, great post on Washtenaw Dairy. I just realized here it is near the end of August, I live in Ann Arbor and I haven't even gone there once yet this summer! What a tragedy! I just blocked out some time in my schedule for tomorrow afternoon to stop by and get some bear claw ice cream... :)
Eric, welcome to activerain. It is such a fun place to visit and eat ice-cream.
This is the type of place I like to visit when I'm sightseeing. Keep your franchised chains (except for old Tastee Freez stands, I guess) and give me the old fashioned mom & pop stores any day! Wastenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor sounds like Central Dairy in Jefferson City MO. When we were visiting Jeff City with my sister in law, she took us there and she said it was just as she remembered when she was a little girl and her dad used to take her there.
Places like these are so full of memories and character - you just can't get that at Rita's.
Karen, I enjoyed your Real Scoop. This is the first thing I've entered and it was fun.
Missy, thanks - I enjoyed yours too. Even if the prize is a big fat nothing, it was fun and got our creative juices flowing a bit...hopefully it'll help us with Googlejuice too! ;)
I've only been to Ann Arbor once but maybe I will get there again.... and can try the ice cream... and compare it to "Rays" my favorite MI ice cream place. Sara Lipnitz has a long ago AR entry about meeting Josh Plummer at Rays. I had some great gelatto in Dearborn MI too...
I'll have to remember Washtenaw Dairy on "the old westside" though if we go back to visit Ann Arbor. I'll track it down!
Maureen, call me if you do, my treat. Where is Ray's ?
I would guess it is in Southfield but I could be totally wrong. I usually have very little idea of where I am in the Metro Detroit area. I need to sometime watch a map and get my bearings. I am not driving when we are there so I don't pay attention to what communities we are in. Most of them all blur together to me.