SoCal Restaurant Show May 30, 2026 Hour 1

“Thrifty® ice cream was launched in 1940 at a small dairy production facility in West Hollywood. Angelenos soon flocked to the flagship Thrifty Drug Store in downtown Los Angeles to sample ice cream from the soda fountain. The high-quality, small-batch ice cream even snagged awards from the L.A. County Fair. By the 1970s, Thrifty ice cream had attained cult status along the West Coast, with significant celebrity shoutouts.” With the bankruptcy and liquidation of Rite-Aid stores Thrifty Ice Cream came under motivated, new ownership about one-year ago. The new management group (with food product experience) has embarked on an expansion and revitalization of the iconic, 86-year old premium brand, while keeping the original recipes and signature flat-topped calendrical scoop style intact. Thrifty Ice Cream’s CEO, Dani Rothenberg, joins us to give us the real scoop.“Hello, You’re Welcome is a (female-owned) neighborhood specialty café and bakery located in the heart of the playhouse district of Pasadena, CA, where neighbors and visitors gather for specialty coffees, teas, and baked goods. There is always something for all eaters- including gluten-free and vegan options. Featuring their famous breakfast biscuit Sammie to fuel your morning and sammies on house-baked bread for lunch. They prioritize clean ingredients and partner with responsible growers, roasters, and tea farms that embrace the same ethos of sustainable-regenerative growing practices!” Second generation co-proprietress, Gigi di Bernardo, joins us with her whisk at the ready.