About Us

A Sweet Favorite for Generations Of Washingtonians

Ask Washingtonians about their fondest ice cream memories, and chances are they involve Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. And to find our super-premium ice cream nearly 70 years ago, you certainly didn't have to look far. The first Gifford's opened in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 1938 - and two years later a second shop was established in nearby Bethesda. Others sprung up in Arlington and in Bailey's Crossroads, both in Virginia, in 1948 and 1956. And in the 1960s, two more shops opened in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Burke, Virginia. These original stores featured homemade candies, waitress service, and individual hot fudge pitchers for sundaes. During the 1950s and 1960s, loyal fans included President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Gifford's was also a favorite of Takoma Park native and future movie star Goldie Hawn.

John Gifford, the company's founder, ran the business himself until the early 1980s. After he passed away in 1983, the reins were passed to his son, Robert. Unfortunately, the business was not in good financial condition, nor were there the proper systems in place to successfully franchise, and in 1985 the family had to file for bankruptcy.

The Hunt family, longtime fans and customers of Gifford's, bought the rights to the name, trademark, recipes, and packaging from the bankruptcy court. They reopened the business in a new location in Bethesda, Maryland - across the street from the original Gifford's on Wisconsin Avenue. In 1999, the Hunt family sold the business to their longtime manger, Marcelo Ramagem, and his father Sergio. In 2002 the Ramagems moved the store from Wisconsin Avenue to a new spot on Bethesda Row, adjacent to a new movie theater and many restaurants. Sales increased steadily, and Gifford's thrived in its new location - adding a wholesale business that served the surrounding restaurants, hotels, and caterers.

In late 2004, Neal Lieberman bought out Sergio’s interest in Gifford’s and began working with Marcelo to bring Gifford’s back to its glory days.     Gifford's grew significantly over the next 5 years, supplying over 200 restaurants, hotels, and country clubs, opening seven additional ice cream scoop shops, and adding prepackaged Gifford's pints into grocery stores.

As part of an effort to streamline operations in late 2009, Gifford’s decided to sell its store locations in order to focus its efforts on being a great manufacturer and wholesaler of Gifford’s rich creamy ice cream. Unfortunately, after a few months, it became apparent that in addition to not delivering the level of customer service nticipated, the new store owner was also in financial trouble. The new store owner filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010 and the stores were closed.
Gifford's today continues to thrive as a manufacturer and wholesaler, selling ice cream to restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores, and through selected premium scoop shops around the MidAtlantic. Relive warm memories and create a lifetime of new ones at Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. For nearly 70 years, we've been the Washington DC area's premier purveyor of gourmet ice creams and candies and we plan on being there for another 70 more.