CINCINNATI

Cincinnati is and always was a German/Irish town.  That being said, all breweries aside, the Greeks have had a huge impact on life in the Queen City - especially what we eat.

One Greek boy, Thomas, settled here in the late 19th century and a year later his younger brother, Nicholas, joined him.  Thomas was all of sixteen years old when he made the trip from Sparta, Greece to the banks of the Ohio.  They found work at a confectionery business in town and began saving money to start their own.  In 1908, they did it; opening a place they called The Metropolitan in the suburb of Norwood.  They hand-churned ice cream for their parlor and delivered it by horse and buggy to the wealthy nearby residents.  A few years into business, they started making candy and chocolates for their parlor. 

In 1913, they opened a second place of business in nearby Oakley.  When the depression hit in the 1920's, they sold their Norwood store and renamed the one in Oakley:  Aglamesis Brothers. 

Aglamesis Brothers Ice Cream Parlor still stands proud on Oakley Square and is internationally recognized as one of the elite ice cream manufacturers in the country.  Their ice cream and candy is well known for its high quality.  The business is owned and operated by second and third generation Aglamesis family members.

The Oakley parlor is still appointed with round marble-top pedestal tables and wrought iron chairs, lit by Tiffany-style lamps and it includes a marble soda fountain and stools out of the early twentieth century.  All ice cream and candy is still made the small batch way.  You will find no better place to visit on a Summer night in Cincinnati.