Atz Ice Cream closes Fort Wayne stores

A post Monday on the business’ Facebook page stated: “We deeply regret the closure of our two Atz Ice Cream locations. We thank our many loyal customers who patronized Atz’s over the last more than fifty years.

“Please pray for our employees during this transition. We are exceedingly grateful to them for the many years they have served our customers and our family’s business.”

Atz Ice Cream was founded in Kendallville in 1922. In 2011, the company, owned by the Atz family, ceased ice cream production at its Kendallville plant at 100 E. Wayne St. because the facility’s aging refrigeration system stopped working and it would cost too much to repair, co-owner Terry Atz said at the time.

Founded as Puritan Ice Cream Co., Atz made premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, eventually shipping them to customers within a 100-mile radius of Kendallville.

It opened its first Atz’s Ice Cream Shoppe at 3235 N. Anthony Blvd in Fort Wayne in 1956. That store and another at 211 E. Tillman Road in Fort Wayne closed Monday.