Vic’s Ice Cream reopens to long lines in Land Park, serving parlor’s classic dishes
Vic’s Ice Cream, the landmark parlor in Sacramento’s Land Park neighborhood, reopened at 11 a.m. Saturday to much fanfare following nearly a year of renovations.
The new owners of the iconic ice cream spot at 3199 Riverside Blvd. retained the place’s retro style, with checkered floor tiles and chrome stools. The menu is still displayed on a black letter board with white letters.
They did give the place a fresher, lighter look, employing pale green striped wallpaper to add lightness and visual interest. The counter is also adorned with more modern tile.
One thing that has not changed is the food, especially the ice cream.
General manager Dave Gilson has been with the business for almost 25 years. He started as a scooper and worked up to his current role around 12 years ago.
Gilson prides himself on retaining the authenticity of the parlor’s offerings. He maintains the ice cream has always been made in-house.
“It’s the same recipe, same high-quality ingredients, same person making it. The idea is to keep it great and keep it the same,” he said.
Which flavor is the most popular? Gilson says he assumes it will still be mint chip.
Vic’s offers prepared food as well. It’s famous for its hot dog sandwich, the dogs split and served between slices of bread and griddled.
Also popular is its “red sauce,” a condiment made with ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
“People love to dip their chips and even their sandwiches in it,” Gilson said.
Despite gloomy skies and sporadic rain, people started lining up at the front door at . 9 a.m.
First in line were two local children, Trey Olson, 12, and Owen Counts, 11. Trey says he’s been coming to Vic’s since he was a couple of months old.
Land Park residents Kelly and Randall Fairchild have lived around the corner since the early ‘90s, and have been loyal Vic’s customers. Their daughter was one of the first female scoopers. Kelly was looking forward to a hot dog sandwich and peppermint stick ice cream; his favorite is the tuna fish sandwich.
Father and son Steve and Easton Pearce came in from Sierra Oaks. Steve Pearce has been coming “as long as he can remember,” and his son has been coming his entire life.
Their go-to order is a hot dog sandwich and a chocolate malt. They’re also fans of the chips with red sauce.
Bob Sertich has been coming to Vic’s since the 1950s. He worked there from 1966 to 1971, and his son worked there in the 1990s. He helped start the Fizz Bowl, a fundraiser that started as a football game and is now a golf tournament that just ran on New Year’s Day at William Land Golf Course. Sertich came to get a couple of half gallons and go home.
By opening time, the line ran up the block past the side of the building. Curious passersby peered through the front door and windows.
At 11, the clouds parted, sunlight streamed through the windows and the doors opened. The crowd cheered, and people rushed in, taking their seats at the counter and booths. A substantial line still remained.
Aside from the parlor, the ownership soft-opened Brew Bird Coffee + Creative in the adjacent space. Brew Bird serves coffee, tea and wine, and sells raw pottery that patrons can paint in the cafe.
The future of Vic’s has been one of the most intensely followed sagas in Sacramento’s food scene since owner Craig Rutledge passed away in March 2024. By August 2024, the property had been put up for sale.
Vic’s was founded by Ashley Rutledge and Vic Zito in 1947. Rutledge’s son, Craig, operated the parlor until his death.
A year ago, a group including Carlo Grifone — owner of local restaurant chain Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria — and his daughter, Samantha, bought the property.
The classic shop has won awards for its ice cream throughout its lifetime, including seven consecutive gold medals at the California State Fair.
The reopening was initially slated for late summer 2025 but was delayed due to unexpected remodeling challenges.
This story was originally published January 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM.
