Thomas Anton opened Peacock's Dairy Bar in 1936. In 1956 George Bugelas bought the Dairy Bar overlooking Lake Michigan at 1515 Sheridan Road in Wilmette, in an area known as No-Man's Land. Two years later, he bought the 32-year-old Peacock Ice Cream Company. 
Bugelas was an ice cream aficionado for over thirty years, overseeing every aspect of the Peacock Ice Cream Company. He added ice cream parlors in Evanston and Glencoe. The ice cream factory was in Evanston.
He produced several thousand gallons of premium ice cream a week. The ice cream was made in a factory on Sherman Avenue, then later at 2144 Ashland Avenue, both in Evanston.
Ice cream maker, Bugelas was ahead of his time, creating his own recipes with 16 percent butterfat, fresh fruit, all-natural ingredients, and no preservatives at a time before premium ice cream was widely available.
Another Peacock store was on Skokie Highway in Wilmette, just north of Old Orchard Shopping Center.
Another Peacock store was on Skokie Highway in Wilmette, just north of Old Orchard Shopping Center.
In addition to his specialty flavors, such as the summer's favorite fresh peach, Bugelas created custom flavors for Ravinia, the Drake Hotel, numerous Japanese restaurants other high-end establishments. Beginning in 1976, his chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice creams swept all blue-ribbon competitions in the premium ice cream categories at the Illinois State Fair for 13 consecutive years. Bugelas closed all the retail shops in 1981 to concentrate on the wholesale business.
When his wife became ill in 1992, he closed the business rather than risk selling it to someone who might dilute the quality of his ice cream. George Christopher Bugelas died on October 5, 2004.
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
In 1972 or 1973 I had a cone of peppermint ice cream from the shop in Evanston - it was heavenly and remains one of my most memorable ice cream experiences.
ReplyDeleteI hope I was working there and served you, maybe. 1972 and 1973
DeleteThanks for writing and posting. I grew up near Peacocks and remember their peach ice cream so vividly I can almost taste it. It was actually the only way I would eat a peach!
ReplyDeleteOMG so can I big chunks of the peaches and a beautiful peach color
DeleteI wonder when the Peacocks on Sheridan opened and closed.
ReplyDeleteI, William O'Connor, Jules Smith, and John Sorgel were at Evanston High School from 1969 to 1973 and worked at Peacocks Ice Cream in Evanston at times during these years. I have memories of Gus, the manager and Alvin the cook. Besides scooping ice cream in front, we were trained by Gus to cook those famous cheeseburgers and grilled cheeses, french fries, deep fried chicken, BLTs' and the list goes on. In the back, the sit-down restaurant had copies of famous artwork on its wall. I was happy to received one, the "Night Watch." It was not until the 1980's in Amsterdam I had seen the original on the walls of the Amsterdam's Rijks Museum in all its grandeur. I still have peacocks "Night Watch" on display in my home. What memories of Peacocks I have.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Shoppe in Skokie in the late 70's
ReplyDeleteThe shop
ReplyDeleteIn Evanston in Davis was my first job (1977) I absolutely loved waiting on the elderly regulars from the retirement homes to the east. They had such fascinating stories to tell, and One had an imaginary poodle with her every day. I learned that peppermint ice cream is absolutely delightful in hot coffee and that sundaes and sodas defrost and melt very quickly. I remember there was a courtyard and up until October, patrons could eat outside amidst giant pumpkins. It was an interesting first job.
I worked there in the mid 1970's. Gus was unpredictable. I remember working there one day and he was as nice as he could be, but then he went on a tirade and told one of the ice cream scoop guys to leave because he gave a free coke to an employee.
DeleteBest ice cream ever. Mocha chip was my favorite. But yes, the peppermint was special.
Wish the recipe for the famous red punch would show up somewhere. Bought frozen bag of frozen slush and added whatever.
ReplyDeleteI have many good memories of working at Peacock's in Wilmette. I was able to do it all - ice cream scooper, busboy, waiter, and even the cook between 1976 and 1978! One interesting tidbit. My dad ran a commercial photography studio in Chicago and whenever he needed a scene with real ice cream, they would always use Peacock's ice cream. Its high butterfat content enabled it to withstand those hot studio lights much better than any other brand. This was a great high school job and also gave me some good insights into the challenges of running a medium-size business. Every Saturday night my co-worker and i would get off work late and head over to a restaurant on Dempster that was one of the few open after 11:00 PM - and we would wind up spending a good portion of the money we had just earned that same evening- economically quite silly but a memorable ritual.
ReplyDeleteThey had bricks of lime ice and chocolate to take home. Also raspberry ice and vanilla.
ReplyDeleteI remember the good double cheeseburgers, the rubber trees in the corners by the picture windows overlooking the lake, and the Peacocks Lemon Ice. Also the molded fiberglass chairs in the dining room.
ReplyDeleteI also remember banana split night as a New Trier kid going to the shop on Davis.
ReplyDeleteI spoke with Mr. Bugelas at length while trying to interest him in a special scooping system. At the time he was developing the product that became V8 Juice. Very interesting person.
ReplyDeleteNOT AN ACCURATE COMMENT. V8 Vegetable Juice was created by W.G. Peacock in 1933 in Evanston, Illinois, the founder of the New England Products Company.
Deletehttps://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2019/06/v8-vegetable-juice-was-created-in-evanston-illinois.html
Dr. Gale,
ReplyDeleteDo you know where all of them Peacock Ice Cream recipes have gone?