Klavons hearkens back to a better ice cream past

‘ ‘ ‘ Everyone remembers their first time. ‘ ‘ ‘ Except for me. My memory was wiped about… ‘ ‘ ‘ Everyone remembers their first time. ‘ ‘ ‘ Except for me. My memory was wiped about five or six years ago. Having my first sundae at Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor drove my first experience with ice cream into the ground like a flaming meteorite. I can say that I never enjoyed ice cream until I delved deep into what Klavon’s had to offer. ‘ ‘ ‘ My fascination began when my oldest sister and my dad argued about how to say ‘Klavon’s.’ My dad insisted it was ‘klay-vins,’ but my sister was certain it was ‘kluh-vawn.’ My brother-in-law would often tease my dad, telling him he sounded like Professor Frink from The Simpsons. HOYVIN-GLAVIN!! ‘ ‘ ‘ I quickly learned, however, that in the realm of ice cream, Klavon’s ‘mdash; no matter how it’s pronounced ‘mdash; is king. ‘ ‘ ‘ Over the hill and through the Strip District, the little ice cream parlor, located at 2801 Penn Ave., is a delicious, old-fashioned slice of Pittsburgh. Brightly colored plastic chairs, neon signs and balloons attract the attention of curious customers. ‘ ‘ ‘ Those who enter the parlor are treated to a delightful spectacle. Art Deco lamps, antique phone booths and even a tin ceiling, along with toys and knick-knacks from the ’20s and ’30s, decorate the shop. ‘ ‘ ‘ Customers can sit in wooden booths or tables in the middle of the store. For an old-fashioned feel, there’s also a marble counter with stools made to look like Coca-Cola bottle caps. Sitting here gives customers the best view of the parlor. ‘ ‘ ‘ The menu offers plenty of variety. Klavon’s stocks Hershey’s and Reinhold’s ice cream flavors, including some that are lactose and sugar-free. Plus, there are multiple syrups and even whipped creams. Customers can order classics such as the Tin Ceiling Sundae or a banana split called The Strip District Split. Or they can break the mold by creating their own combinations. The number of floats, milkshakes, egg creams, malts and sodas only support the conclusion that if something can be done to ice cream, Klavon’s will do it. ‘ ‘ ‘ Daring ice cream fans can get their picture taken and posted on the wall, but not before finishing the eight-scoop, topping-drenched Super Bowl Sundae. ‘ ‘ ‘ If ice cream isn’t for you, the shop serves fresh deli sandwiches daily, as well as soups and salads. ‘ ‘ ‘ No matter your choice, you are sure to be greeted by one of the eight Klavon siblings. Audrey, Geraldine, Gloria, Jane, Jimmy, Mark, Mary Ellen and Raymond all take turns behind the counter. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘If you got Klavon’s blood in you, you work,’ said the oldest sister, Mary Ellen. ‘ ‘ ‘ Raymond, who sports small-framed glasses and a handlebar mustache, taught in Pittsburgh public schools for 30 years. He retired eight years ago, but the ice cream parlor always held a special place in his heart. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘He dreaded going back to school after the summer because he loved Klavon’s so much,’ said Audrey. ‘ ‘ ‘ The shop is deeply rooted in the family, and second-oldest sibling Raymond will fill customers in on it. ‘ ‘ ‘ In its heyday in the 1920s, Klavon’s was a drugstore owned and operated by Pitt Pharmacy School alumnus James Klavon and his wife Mary, the siblings’ grandparents. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It wasn’t unusual for drugstores to sell ice cream in that time,’ said Raymond. ‘So there were coolers and syrup pumps.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1936, Pittsburgh experienced the worst flood it ever weathered. The flood caused water levels to rise almost 46 feet. A plaque on the shop’s ceiling marks how high the water rose. The family lacked the money to restock prescriptions and boarded up the shop. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘When our grandfather died in 1979, we weren’t sure what to do with it. We always played here as kids, but there was nothing left at this end of the Strip,’ said Raymond. ‘ ‘ ‘ Beneath the sewage stains and dust, however, all the old ice cream equipment remained. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Well, none of us are pharmacists, and there’s no competing with pharmacies like Rite Aid,’ said Raymond. ‘The equipment was all here: freezers, syrup pumps, everything. Everything is authentic, except for all the behind-the-scenes things like wiring and plumbing.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ In January 1999, Klavon’s reopened, but not without its problems. ‘ ‘ ‘ Two days after being featured in a local newspaper, the Klavons were forced to dispose of the prescriptions leftover from the shop’s pharmacy days. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Look at this one: sedative number two,’ said Raymond, holding up an empty glass bottle. ‘The main ingredient is cannabis.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ They called Richard Lithko of the Pitt School of Pharmacy to help them discard what they could. The remaining prescriptions, including things like a drug called strychnine, which causes muscular convulsions that can lead to death from exhaustion, were donated to the School of Pharmacy. ‘ ‘ ‘ Bottles, tools and other pharmaceutical items remain on display in some of Klavon’s many glass cases. Teapots, Hallmark houses and toys sit in other cases and serve as a reminder of Klavon’s history. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘This is the Isaly’s Skyscraper Cone, and this is the scoop that made it,’ said Raymond, pointing to a picture and then the ice cream scoop he has on display. ‘The scoop was hard for quality control, so it was removed in the ’60s but stayed in the main store in Oakland.’ ‘I was talking to Mrs. Isaly one day, and she told me one of the managers put some of the scoops in a landfill and another into poured concrete. So, they were thrown and scattered all over the place. One day, a friend of the family bought a bunch of scrap metal, and this scoop was at the bottom.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Audrey said the scoops begin selling at $700 on eBay. ‘ ‘ ‘ The newest addition to Klavon’s is the 65-foot wide by 12-foot high mural, painted by Andrea Celani, an art teacher at Langley High School. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘One thing that struck me as odd was that people came and watched Andrea paint this mural during the summer, and they were surprised a woman was painting it,’ said Raymond. ‘ ‘ ‘ Many Klavon’s customers made some of their favorite memories within the shop’s walls. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘An old gentleman came in here, stopped, and started to cry when he saw all these things he remembered from his childhood,’ said Raymond. ‘We’ve also had a couple get engaged in here, and we hid the ring in her banana split.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The warm, welcoming atmosphere of Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor is unlike any other. While the days of penny candy have disappeared with low gas prices, there are still two things a penny will pay for in the store. That, however, is for me to know, and for you to find out.