CT HOSPITALITY HALL OF FAME SHADY GLEN RESTAURANT & ICE CREAM PARLOR

CT Hospitality Hall of Fame presented by GoNation

SHADY GLEN RESTAURANT & ICE CREAM PARLOR

Manchester, CT

John and Bernice Rieg opened the first Shady Glen store near the Manchester/Bolton town line in 1948 and a second store in the Manchester Parkade shopping center in 1965, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 1946, John and Bernice Rieg decided to expand their farm into making and selling ice cream. The University of Connecticut at the time had a strong program for helping farmers to diversify, and the Riegs worked with Leonard R. Dowd, Professor of Dairy Manufacturing in UConn’s Department of Animal Industries, on their first formulas for ice cream. The ice cream was a huge success at Shady Glen.

The First Shady Glen Dairy Store was a two-and-a-half room summer cottage on ten acres of land, 1/4 mile from the Rieg farm. It was, at the time, located in an isolated area. Although the cottage had an electric light pole in front of it, there was no electricity or inside plumbing. Nevertheless, John and Bernice worked out an arrangement with the owners, whereby, with very little money down and small monthly payments, they were able to buy the cottage and land in 1938. Shady Glen Dairy Farm opened on June 12, 1948. Almost immediately, its 47 stools filled. Bernice ran the store and John managed the manufacturing.

After much experimenting, Bernice invented the “Bernice Original” cheeseburger in 1949. What makes the Bernice Original unique as far as cheeseburgers are concerned is the way the cheese is prepared and presented: it is fried directly on the grill until it has four crisp corners, or wings, and these protrude far out from under the top bun like a crown when the burger is served.

Now owned by William & Amy Hoch, Shady Glen continues to be a Manchester institution, locally famous for its homemade ice cream, signature “Bernice Original” cheeseburger, vintage 1950s style diner and service. In 2012, it was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an American Classic.