Borden's Ice Cream is a historic ice cream parlor

Ice cream parlor

Ice cream parlors are places that sell ice cream and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in two varieties in these stores: soft-serve ice cream , and hard-packed, which has an assortment of flavors, as well as frozen yogurt, which is a low-fat alternative and tastes slightly...

 on Johnston Street in Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...

 that was built in 1940. In 1981 the then owner, lifelong Lafayette resident Flora Levy, died. Her will stipulated a large bequest to the University of Louisiana

University of Louisiana

University of Louisiana may refer to:* University of Louisiana System, public multi-campus university system** Northwestern State University of Louisiana...

's Lafayette Foundation; the ice cream parlor was part of that bequest. The Foundation held title to the building, and rented the space to the manager who continued to operate the business. The building had been passed down from generation to generation in the Levy family; Flora had received it from her mother.

In May 2009 the Foundation sold the store to Lafayette Red's health club

Health club

A health club is a place which houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.-Main workout area:...

owner Red Lerille, who bought the property with the intention of keeping the local icon alive in Lafayette. Lerille plans to slightly renovate the building, adding a drive through window and outdoor seating. Lerille's daughter Kackie Lerille will manage the store. Lerille was quoted as saying that he is interested in mom-and-pop type businesses like the ice cream store. "I believe it is the American way, but it is dying fast. This location is actually the last Borden’s retail ice cream shop in the United States. It is a Lafayette tradition and my daughter and I fully intend to bring it back to its original state."

Notability

Ella Mae Meaux had worked in the parlor for 48 years by the time it was sold to the Lerille Family. She said, "Generations of family have come to Borden's for the old-fashioned ice cream parlor experience. This sale to the Lerilles ensures families will be able to continue with this experience for many years to come."

Business management

Borden's had been run by General Manager Wayne Tucker. The business had rented the building from the UL Foundation, with the rent being used to fund the annual Flora Levy Lecture Series at the University. The proceeds from the sale of the building will also be placed in a trust to continue that lecture series.