Palo Alto: After 70 years, Rick’s Ice Cream turns over its recipes to Pints of Joy

Computer Chip ice cream, meet Alphonso Mango.

Call it a rich, creamy merger of artisanal, family-owned Bay Area shops. Ice cream lovers can now enjoy handcrafted flavors from two creameries on one cone as the owners of Rick’s Ice Cream in Palo Alto have retired and sold the business and recipes to the entrepreneurs at Pints of Joy in Sunnyvale and Fremont.

“We know what it means to the community, the schoolkids and the numerous residents who have made Rick’s their local dessert stop,” said Ketki Dandekar, who co-founded Pints of Joy and was contacted by the most recent Rick’s owners, the Khosla family.

“Our goal is to preserve everything customers love about Rick’s, while enhancing the experience with the craft, flavors and standards Pints of Joy is known for.

“Just as importantly,” she said, “all current employees will remain on, ensuring familiar faces and the same warm service customers expect.”

Rick’s, also known as Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream, was founded in 1956. Among its most popular handmade flavors are Computer Chip, Choco Cherry, Cookies & Dough, Black Raspberry Crunch, Mexican Chocolate and the fruity Blue Moon,

The Computer Chip flavor — chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips and orange flavor — is a Silicon Valley classic. “One byte and you will be software in our hands,” the Rick’s folks have said over the years.

Pints of Joy was co-founded in 2020 by Dandekar and friend Arshiya Shaikh, who decided to pivot during the pandemic from jobs in finance to making ice cream.

“Because we don’t use artificial flavors, essences and colors, our ice creams give you the whole flavor experience — taste, smell, texture,” both said in a 2021 interview about their transition. “We’ve also let our creative juices flow and come up with some very exciting flavors that people can relate to.”

Since the opening of the Sunnyvale flagship, the founders have also expanded to Fremont.

“Our most loved and popular flavors are Alphonso Mango, Chili Lime Guava, Biscoff Cookie and Malai Kulfi, which are now being scooped at Rick’s, too,” Dandekar said,

Details: The co-branded Rick’s and Pints of Joy is open from noon Tuesdays-Sundays until 8 p.m. or 8:30 (Fridays-Saturdays) at 3946 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Closed Mondays. www.ricksicecream.com