Southeastern Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream

— Historic Landmark —

Photographed by Cory Waters, December 19, 2025

1. Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1949
Gunther's Quality Ice Cream
Est. 1940 by Iva and William Gunther

Owned & operated since 1974 by Richard and Marlena Klopp
Googie design by William Koblik & Alfred Fisher
Jugglin Joe Neon Sign: Samuel Stover (EPCO) in consultation with William Herman "Pop" Gunther

Erected by Sacramento Heritage, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 38° 33.204′ N, 121° 28.541′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Southeastern Sacramento. It is at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and 3rd Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Franklin Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2801 Franklin Boulevard, Sacramento CA 95818, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sacramento High School (approx. half a mile away); Petrovich Family Playfields (approx. 0.6 miles away); 4th Avenue/Wayne Hultgren Light Rail Station (approx. 0.7 miles away); General Albert M. Winn (approx. one mile away); Site of the Ridge Home - Sacramento's First Mercy Hospital

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(approx. one mile away); The Coloma Road (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dr. Benjamin F. Pendery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Daniel Blue (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.

Another marker is no longer nearby. General John A. Sutter (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Gunther's Ice Cream (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife, Iva, founded Gunther's in 1940. Ice cream is manufactured on-site, with new specialty flavors debuting monthly. The shop, originally located at Franklin Boulevard and 5th Avenue in Sacramento, moved to 2801 Franklin Blvd. in 1949, where it has existed ever since. The building is considered a strong example of transitional architecture marking the period between Mid-century modern and post-World War II design. The business's mascot is Jugglin' Joe, a soda jerk tossing a scoop of ice cream, portrayed in an animated neon sign atop Gunther's shop.

Herman Gunther died in 1963, while his son, Dick Gunther, died in 1967. Iva Gunther could not continue running the business subsequently, selling it to Carl Buchell the same year. Since 1974, the business has been owned by Rick and Marlena Klopp;
Photographed by Cory Waters, December 18, 2025

2. Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream Marker
Rick had worked at Gunther's since 1969, when he was 22 years old.…

In 2018, Gunther's was nominated as a historical landmark.

(Submitted on December 20, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Cory Waters of Bangor, California. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Cory Waters of Bangor, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.