Purity Ice Cream

Known as “The Ice Cream of the Finger Lakes”, Purity has been providing original recipe, small batch ice cream to Central New York for generations.  

Purity Ice Cream, the Pride of the Finger Lakes, was first produced in 1936 when Leo Guentert opened his shop on Ithaca's First Street. Leo and his wife Sylvia made ice cream crafted with basic, natural ingredients. 

Leo, born in Germany, graduated from Cornell, then worked for Nestle´ and the old Ithaca Ice Cream Co., prior to setting out on his own. He loved chocolate ice cream and thought he could make it better than his competitors. Not only did he succeed with chocolate, but his vanilla and bittersweet flavors soon became local legends. His granddaughter, Margo Klose, took over the reins upon Leo's death at the age of 96. 

In 1998, Bruce and Heather Lane bought Purity with an eye towards revitalizing this Finger Lakes icon. We still use Leo’s original recipes. Ice cream the way it used to be made! In small batches. With local, high quality ingredients, including BGH-free milk from Upstate NY farms.

And now we offer you our own scratch-baked pies, muffins, and cupcakes!