ST. LOUIS – Ted Drewes Jr., the boisterous businessman who took his father’s frozen custard business to new heights over several decades, becoming ingrained in the fabric of the St. Louis region, died earlier this week, his family confirmed to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The family said Drewes Jr. died on August 26 at age 96.
Drewes’ father, Ted Sr., opened his first frozen custard shop in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1929. The following year, he opened the first St. Louis shop near the intersection of Natural Bridge Road and Goodfellow Avenue.
He opened a second location at 4224 South Grand Boulevard in 1931 and a third in 1941 at 6726 Chippewa Street.
By 1958, the shop in Florida and on Natural Bridge had closed. The South Grand and Chippewa locations survived to this day, with the latter serving as the company headquarters.
Before custard became his legacy, Drewes Jr. was a young tennis prodigy, a crack rifleman, and a champion speed roller skater. But when his father passed, he fully embraced the family business, spending countless hours behind the counter at the iconic Chippewa location.
“It’s the best custard I’ve ever had,” customer Roy Wieland said.
Ted Drewes Jr. didn’t just serve custard–he served memories to generations of St. Louisans and tourists alike.
“It’s very unique, so I really like it. On the trip, this is something we wanted to experience definitively, and I really like it,” Tharmini Ruehireswaran, a customer visiting from the United Kingdom, said.
Eventually, the local shop turned into a symbol of the city’s identity.
“There’s just so many millions of people that have enjoyed his ice cream and enjoyed their family business, and that’s a legacy very few people get to leave,” customer Matt Brey said.
Drewes Jr. is credited with expanding the size of the Chippewa location to accommodate more customers and taking over the sale of Christmas trees on the Chippewa parking lot after a business partner dropped out in 1954.
The Drewes Family released the following statement regarding Ted Drewes Jr.’s passing:
“A native of St. Louis, Ted loved the city that he called home his entire life. He will forever be remembered for his unwavering love for his faith, family, and city. Ted’s legacy will live on through the memories shared over cones and cups, a symbol of warmth and tradition that will continue to bring joy to generations to come. A celebration of life will be held at a later date for the public to join.”
