After 73 Years, The Iconic Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Shop Has Permanently Closed

For over 73 years Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream shop has been a staple in the Phoenix community, serving up delicious ice cream treats.

Sadly, the Valley’s beloved ice cream shop has officially permanently shut its doors.

In 1951, Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream started selling homemade ice cream when its founder, Mary Coyle, relocated from Ohio to Arizona and brought her famous ice cream recipes with her. She had a wide range of incredible ice cream flavors that she would doctor up with delicious hot fudge, caramel, and crushed pecans. The menu was expansive full of ice cream options and lunch and dinner options as well.

The ice cream shop quickly gained became very popular.

The store with a long history that has taken a few twists and turns over the decades. The original shop sat just across the street from Phoenix Community college near Thomas and 15th Avenue. After doing business there for many years, the store faced the possibility of closing in 2011. When it faced the possibility of closing down in 2011, a loyal customer named Mike Stoffey stepped in and purchased the business. Forced to move, the owners started dishing out the treats near the corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home Road in a much smaller location.

The battle to keep the valley treasure open didn’t stop there. In April 2019 when the retail area was purchased by a redevelopment firm, Mary Coyle’s was relocated by the new proprietor, Larry Healey, to a 1,200-square-foot area at Tapestry on Central Avenue in Fall of 2019.

At the beginning of 2024, a notification was posted on the entrance stating that the landlord has taken action to evict the tenant due to failure to comply with the terms of the lease agreement. As of March 6, the store became vacant, and in the space now sits a sign that the location is now up for lease.

There has been no information indicating that Mary Coyle’s will rise like a Phoenix once again, and sadly after many of years of special treats, the legacy of Mary Coyle and her delicious ice cream recipes may have come to an end.