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Meadowlark Dairy is a historic dairy andice cream shop located inPleasanton, California.[1][2] Originally founded in 1919 as a full-service farm,[3][4][5] it holds the distinction of being the first certified dairy in the state ofCalifornia.[4][1] Today, it operates from a 1960s-era drive-thru building at 57 W. Neal St.,[4][1] where it is known for itssoft-serve ice cream.[4][2]
The business has been owned by the Takens family for three generations.[4][2] In the 21st century, Meadowlark Dairy has gained significant new popularity, blending its status as a small-town institution with viral success on social media platforms likeTikTok andInstagram.[2] In 2023, it was ranked byYelp as one of the top 10 ice cream shops in the United States.[1]
Meadowlark Dairy was founded in 1919 by Walter M. Briggs, Sr.[3][4] The original dairy was located on 153 acres of land off Foothill Road in Pleasanton.[4][1] According to a historical marker at the site, the name was chosen by Briggs's wife, Mary Phillips Briggs, who was inspired by themeadowlark birds frequently seen perched on the farm's fence posts.[3]
The dairy quickly established a reputation for quality and cleanliness, becoming the first certified dairy in California to earn a Grade A designation.[4][1] In its early decades, the farm housed a large herd of cows and included facilities to process the rawmilk produced on-site. The dairy supplied milk,butter, andcream to schools and stores throughout the region.[4]
The original farm on Foothill Road is now the location of Pleasanton's Alviso Adobe Community Park.[3][4][1] The 1854 Alviso Adobe building, aCalifornia Historical Landmark, was part of the property Briggs purchased.[5] Briggs recognized the building's historical significance and had it renovated in the early 1920s. It was then used to house the dairy's farm workers until 1969.[5]
Dairying was a major industry in the Amador Valley by the mid-20th century, with records from 1949 counting six dairies and 1,250 milk cows in the area.[5] The original Meadowlark Dairy farm's operations, however, came to an end in the late 1960s. Following the death of Walter Briggs's son in 1966, the family faced estate tax issues and sold the 153-acre property.[5]
The buyer was the Great Southwest Corp., a Texas-based conglomerate that planned to build a $20 million "Six Flags Over California" amusement park on the site.[5] The proposal was met with fierce opposition from local residents and thePleasanton Times, who "put up such a fight" that the plans were ultimately abandoned. The dairy officially closed its original farm operations in 1969, and the land was later sold to the DeSilva Group, which developed most of it into housing but deeded the adobe and a few surrounding acres to the city of Pleasanton.[5]
The Takens family became involved with the dairy afterWorld War II, when Jannes and Janna Takens immigrated fromHolland and began working for the Briggs family.[4][1] They signed a 10-year lease to operate the dairy in 1958 and purchased the business outright in the 1960s, following the death of the original owner.[4][1]
Coinciding with the 1969 closure of the original farm, the Takens family moved the dairy's cows to pasture land nearTracy[1][5] and established a new, modern processing plant. In July 1969, they opened the drive-thru facility at 57 W. Neal St. in downtown Pleasanton, which remains the dairy's current location.[4][1] This facility operated as a drive-thru, where residents could conveniently purchase milk, butter, bacon, eggs, and other grocery staples.[4][1]
In the early 1980s, Jannes and Janna sold the business to their son, Bruce Takens, and his wife, Patti.[4][1] Bruce Takens is credited with introducing the classic soft-serve ice cream cones still served today.[4][1]
According to family lore, the transition began by chance.[4][2] Bruce purchased a van from a school district auction and discovered an ice cream machine had been left in the back.[4][2] He decided to experiment with creating an ice cream mix, and the product quickly became a local favorite.[4]
The business model shifted definitively in the mid-1980s (around 1986) when Bruce sold the family's remaining cows, marking the end of Meadowlark's time in the "cow business."[4] He converted the milk processing plant on Neal Street into the drive-thru and walk-up ice cream shop it is known as today.[4]
In January 2018, Bruce Takens retired.[4] The business is now owned and operated by the third generation of the family, his son Jesse Takens and his wife, Kelsey.[4][2][1]
While Meadowlark Dairy continues to sell dairy staples like milk (now sourced from Crystal Creamery inModesto), cream, and butter, its primary product and main draw is its soft-serve ice cream.[4][2]
The shop uses its original soft-serve recipe, which produces a famously dense and creamy product.[2] The business has expanded its capacity over the years, growing from the single auctioned machine to four, and eventually to nine soft-serve machines to keep up with demand.[2]
The menu is known for its simplicity and affordability.[2][1] As of 2023, the shop did not offer toppings, a decision that helps maintain the efficiency of its famously long lines.[2]
Meadowlark always offers its best-selling chocolate and vanilla swirl.[2] The shop's popularity is also driven by a rotating menu of "special" flavors, which are announced weekly and often develop a "mini cult following".[2]
Over the years, these specialty flavors have included:[4][2]
The shop has also expanded its menu to include dairy-free and vegan options,[4][2] as well asslushies in flavors like Root Beer and Meadowlark Berry.[1] A popular item is the "Diablo," which consists of a scoop of soft-serve ice cream added to a slushie.[1] The dairy also offers a small "pup cup" of vanilla soft-serve for dogs.[2]
The dairy is a perennial local favorite, frequently winning thePleasanton Weeklys Readers' Choice award for "Best Ice Cream".[4] In 2023, its reputation expanded nationally whenYelp named Meadowlark Dairy the No. 8 best ice cream shop in the United States.[1] Yelp noted its affordable prices, efficient drive-thru line, and quality, stating, "They'll have you at first lick".[1]
Meadowlark Dairy's business has evolved significantly, from a 153-acre agricultural operation to a single, focused retail location.
A key component of the dairy's success, according to its owners, is its staff.[4] The business is a major employer for local high school students.[4] Jesse Takens stated in 2018 that the dairy employs roughly 40 teenagers during the summer and that their energy is a "key to success."[4]
The dairy is deeply embedded in the Pleasanton community.[4][2] It is known to be busiest on the first and last days of school and during local summer concerts.[2] It also actively participates in community events, such as hosting the Pleasanton Police Department's "Cone with a Cop" event.[4]