Glen Ellyn in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Prince Castle Ice Cream Shop

1931-1974

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025

1. Prince Castle Ice Cream Shop Marker

Inscription. 534 Duane

Erected by Glen Ellyn Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 41° 52.532′ N, 88° 3.951′ W. Marker is in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Duane Street east of Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 534 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn IL 60137, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Duane Street School (a few steps from this marker); House Built in 1856 (a few steps from this marker); Glen Ellyn Horse Trough (a few steps from this marker); “Marmo” Red Maple (within shouting distance of this marker); The Glen Sanitary Bakery (within shouting distance of this marker); Homestead of Henry Benjamin (within shouting distance of this marker); Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Railroad Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Homestead of Amelda and Jabez Dodge (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Ellyn.

More about this marker. The marker is one of several embedded into the sidewalk near historic sites in downtown Glen Ellyn.

Regarding Prince Castle Ice Cream Shop.

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Prince Castle was a DuPage County-based chain of ice cream shops founded by Walter Fredenhagen and Earl Prince in Naperville in 1931. The stores were housed in buildings that looked like castles. Fredenhagen and Prince ended their partnership in 1954, and Fredenhagen opened a chain called Cock Robin, which was an area favorite until the last one, in Brookfield, closed in 2008.

Also see . . . The History of Prince Castle Ice Cream Shops (1931-1954) and Cock Robin (1954-2008). From the Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal.

Excerpt: “It produced the 'One In A Million' malted milkshake, which they made with a patented formula so thick that its claim to fame was it nearly clogged the straw. Ray Kroc, who would go on to found McDonald’s, once sold Multi-Mixers out of the Prince Castle’s sales division in Chicago. Fredenhagen and Prince trained Kroc in the business.”

(Submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 21, 2025

2. Prince Castle Ice Cream Shop Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.