Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Abruptly Closes In Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A popular ice cream parlor abruptly closed shocking patrons and leaving 80 people without jobs.

The owners of Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour said they couldn't make ends meet, blaming minimum wage increases and a rent hike.

The all-around family fun Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour had made its way back to Sacramento following a 20-year hiatus. But after only three years, it played its final tune.

"This became my home over the last two years. We grew as a family," said Drew Thayer who found out he lost his job through a Facebook post Monday morning.

"This totally comes as a shock because we've been busy as stated for many many months now, a packed house day in and day out then one day were just without a job," he said.

The owners said there are several factors including the rise of minimum wage and ultimately couldn't come to a rental agreement they could afford.

For many employees it wasn't just punching the clock, but instead a labor of love.

"A lot of loyal customers who come in here on a regular basis and love what we do for them and for their children and it's going to be a real shame we can't serve them anymore," said Zachary Holtzclaw, who opened the restaurant starting in the kitchen and working his way to management.

A previous Sacramento Farrell's location near the Executive Airport was the site of a tragedy in 1972. A plane went off the runway and crashed into the restaurant killing 22 people, half were children.

Farrell's return to Sacramento in 2013 has played out to be brief, but patrons are hopeful.

"It's kind of disappointing, but they'll be back and we'll find them and come back," said Danny Keesling who brought his family down from Yuba City.

The beloved ice cream parlor once had 60 locations, now there are only four.

Owners said it's a sign of the times, but for now are holding onto a decades-old slogan, "We'll be back!"

"It will take some time to find a location and do it right but we will be back to Sacramento," said President of Parlour Enterprises Inc. Paul Kramer,

Another Farrell's location also closed Monday in Southern California.

The company is holding a Sacramento Works seminar Wednesday to help cast members find jobs.