Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor

An illustration of two hands making the letter F on a red background. 

Bob Farrell and Ken McCarthy opened Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in Portland, Oregon in 1963. Built from Farrell’s desire to bring his wife to ice cream parlors fashioned like those from his childhood, it became known for giving free sundaes to children on their birthday, distinct straw-hat uniformed staff, and a player piano. Farrell’s franchised and spread across the country, selling not just ice cream but food and merchandise such as buttons and ice cream scoops. Farrell sold the company to Marriott in 1971 and the company changed owners multiple times in the following decades. In 2009 the owner attempted to revamp the business, but Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor struggled with locations closing around the country until its final location closed in California in 2019.