Little Man Ice Cream has been on the Colorado landscape for a long time. It has even, sometimes, shaped the landscape with its iconic buildings. On the occasion of their 11th scoop shop opening mid-August, Coloradan Irene Middleman Thomas reminds us what makes the company so unique.
Salted Ube Cream Cheese or Blackberry Pineapple Sorbet? Or a Vegan Banana Brulee? So many choices, so much creativity at Little Man Ice Cream Company.
Choosing which ice cream flavor to get at the eleven (the 11th opens mid-August) Little Man Ice Cream outlets is not easy. Fortunately for those indecisive ones (I admit being one!) samples are offered gladly. There are also the always offered faves, such as Buttermilk Cupcake, Space Junkie, Mexican Chocolate and Purple Cow.
While the Little Man Ice Cream Company is beloved in its own right for its naturally sourced and creative recipes of ice cream, it is also renowned for its philanthropic efforts through its “Scoop for Scoop” program, which it launched when the company opened in 2008. A portion of every scoop of ice cream sold is donated to nonprofits on a global scale such as the Rural Orphans Widows Aid Network (ROWAN), Far Away Friends Uganda, and LEAST Mission, building relationships in Uganda, Guatemala, Cambodia, and beyond. Locally, it supports surrounding schools, food banks and other non-profits in the education, childhood welfare and hunger relief realm. For every scoop of ice cream purchased, a scoop of rice, beans or other essentials is donated to communities in need around the globe.
“We believe ice cream isn’t just a sweet treat, it’s a great vehicle to build youth leadership and community,” a spokesperson says. “All of our shops serve as community hubs that help neighbors forge friendships and build memories through live and virtual events.”
Little Man Ice Cream was first opened in 2008 and pays homage to Paul’s father, Peter Tamburello, whose nickname was “Little Man,” due to his small stature. His philanthropic legacy has served as a guiding light for the Little Man Company.
The first shop opened in the Lower Highland neighborhood was truly unique. Built inside a 28-foot milk can, inspired by roadside attractions Paul and his family would visit on road trips. The company continued to use bold design features in its new locales, such as the Constellation 75’ airplane wing at their Little Man Ice Cream Central Park, located on the site of Denver’s first airport; Sweet Cooie’s old-school ice cream parlour in the heart of Congress Park; Old Town Churn’s 26’ wooden-churn bucket reflecting Fort Collins’ agricultural roots and The Factory on West Colfax.
Paul Tamburello, founder of Little Man Ice Cream and Generator Concepts, has been named one of the inaugural recipients of the Denver Business Journal’s (DBJ) Small Business Leaders award. This year’s honors identified and celebrated the leaders and individuals behind some of Denver’s successful and innovative small businesses.
Visit any of the Little Man locations:
- DANG Soft Serve in Park Hill
- Little Man at DIA
- Little Man Cherry Creek
- Little Man Greenwood Village
- Little Man Ice Cream Central Park
- Little Man Ice Cream Factory in the Sloan’s Lake/West Colfax neighborhood
- Little Man Ice Cream LoHi
- Little Man Kent Place in Englewood
- Little Man Littleton
- Old Town Churn in Fort Collins
- Sweet Cooie’s in Congress Park
To learn more about Little Man Ice Cream, visit their website here.
-By Irene Middleman Thomas
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