The Peninsula Creamery located at the corner of High and Channing Streets in downtown Palo Alto. Photo by Palo Alto Pulse.
Tucked into the corner of Channing and High Streets near downtown, you’ll find the Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store and Grill, known by locals as one the last places where the ‘real’ Palo Alto can still be found. The Peninsula Creamery and Dairy Store is not especially high tech or innovative, but that’s just why people love it.
“It’s not pretentious, just good food at a great value,” said regular David Rohrbaugh, who can be found at the Peninsula Creamery most mornings. “They always know my order and are friendly and helpful- it’s an excellent spot.”
So why is the Peninsula Creamery the best kept secret in Palo Alto? Three words: family, history and quality.
Family owned since 1932
Peninsula Creamery’s James Santana still operates the business with his dad John Santana. Photo by Palo Alto Pulse.
The Peninsula Creamery has been owned by the Santana family since 1932, when John Santana Sr. bought the dairy plant that originally bottled milk at its first location on Hamilton Avenue (where Lyfe Kitchen is today). At its peak, the Peninsula Creamery operated 60 delivery trucks and was the sole dairy supplier for Stanford University, local public schools and businesses.
Today, John’s grandson James Santana is raising his three daughters in Palo Alto and carrying on the Peninsula Dairy’s store reputation for friendly service and great food that has endured for over 85 years.
James outside the Creamery circa 1970. Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Creamery.
Deep history in Palo Alto
While cows once roamed on a pasture where the Stanford Mall is now located and Palo Alto was known for its many creameries, the Peninsula Creamery always stood out for its extra fresh milk and rich, delicious ice cream. The milk bottling business closed in 1985, but the Santanas kept producing ice cream in downtown Palo Alto- over 3 million gallons a year in 200 flavors– until 1994.
The original Peninsula Creamery soda fountain on Hamilton and Emerson became a popular hangout throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1970, the family opened the Peninsula Dairy Store in a former auto dealership for Plymouth and Nash cars. The faint outline of the dealership can still be seen from the street as the Santanas didn’t do a lot of remodeling before opening the ice cream shop and soda fountain.
Creamery workers outside the High Street location. Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Creamery.
“We didn’t have a grill when we first opened at this location, but other than that, it’s pretty much exactly the same,” said James Santana, who can be found behind the counter at the Peninsula Creamery almost every day.
What’s the difference between the Palo Alto Creamery and the Peninsula Creamery?
It’s a quirk of Palo Alto that these similar businesses exist within blocks of each other yet have distinct personalities. Here’s how they are separate yet connected…
Connected: The Santana family used to operate both the restaurant and the dairy store, but in 1987 they leased the Palo Alto Creamery at Hamilton Avenue to a different company. The Santana family wrote into the lease contract that there will always be an old-fashioned soda fountain restaurant at the 566 Emerson Street location.
The Creamery in 1987 doesn’t look much different from today. Photo credit: Palo Alto Historical Association archives.
Separate: Today the Santana family operates the Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store and Grill, which offers counter service for breakfast, lunch and ice cream during the day only. The Palo Alto Creamery is a full-service restaurant serving beer and wine and a wide range of entrees that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
From tech workers to construction guys, everyone loves the Peninsula Creamery
Thanks to its reliably great food, quick service, and laid back atmosphere, the Peninsula Creamery attracts a clientele that is as diverse as the city in which it has its deep roots. “We have locals, utility workers, and people from City Hall in here every day,” said James Santana. “Plus the tech companies downtown like Pebble have been huge for us in terms of business.”
lunch at the Creamery is a popular choice in downtown Palo Alto. Photo by Palo Alto Pulse.
While James can sound wistful about the days when Palo Alto was still a “simple, quiet town,” his business is clearly thriving even as downtown evolves. But no matter how busy it gets, the Peninsula Creamery is sure to continue its long history of making customers happy, one ice cream cone at a time…
The Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store and Grill is located at 900 High Street in Palo Alto and is open weekdays between 7am and 5pm and Saturdays between 8am and 3pm. For more information, visit the website or peninsulacreamery.com.
Peninsula Creamery regular David Rohrbaugh. Photo by Palo Alto Pulse.
