Virginia Square in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Carvel🍦 History
1934 Tom Carvel opened Nation's first retail ice cream company in Hartsdale, NY
1935 Begins manufacturing ice cream equipment
1936 Develops secret soft serve ice cream formula
1936 First in the USA Carvel introduce the marketing concept "Buy One Get One Free"
1939 Tom Carvel builds the first soft serve in ice cream machine
1949 First in the USA Begins franchisee training seminar & Carvel College of Ice Cream Knowledge
1951 First in the USA Carvel introduces ice cream sandwich, the Flying Saucer
1954 First in the USA Carvel introduces the gift certificate concept
1955 First in the USA with a line of ice cream vending vehicles
1955 First in the USA to use CEO in radio and TV commercials
1972 First in USA Carvel introduce fat free vanilla frozen-dietary dessert
1990 Tom Carvel passes away in his sleeps
1998 Introduces Lil' Love cakes
2002 Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Ice Cream cone Pyramid
2004 Celebrates 70th Birthday by setting Guinness World Record for the Largest Ice Cream Cake
2004 Carvel Arlington store opened with the original store model and window service
2005
this page online
2006 Celebrates Fudgie the Whale's 30th birthday
2008 Introduces new Artic Blenders & Blended Coffees
2009 Celebrating Carvel's 75 years in business and making fresh home made ice cream in store every day
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.
Location. 38° 53.008′ N, 77° 5.965′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Virginia Square. It can be reached from Wilson Boulevard east of North Kenmore Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3300 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mario's Pizza House (a few steps from this marker); Untitled, early 1930s, restored 2004 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Maury School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spielschiff, 2007 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Ball Family Burial Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arlington County War Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); American Legion Memorial of Arlington (approx. Ό mile away); Arlington Post Office (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026
3. Sign on the grounds
1936
Carvel introduced Buy One Get One Free concept
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026
4. Additional sign on the grounds
2002
Carvel sets Guinness World Record for largest ice cream cone pyramid
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026
5. Additional sign on the grounds
2003
Carvel Arlington opens with it's 1940's style walk-thru window
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026
6. Additional sign on the grounds
2004
Carvel sets Guinness World record for largest ice cream cake
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 26, 2026
7. Additional sign on the grounds
2014
Carvel celebrates its 80th Birthday
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 26, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
