Has Sherman’s Dairy Bar in South Haven Reopened?

After more than 60 years serving ice cream, it was really sad to say goodbye to Sherman’s Dairy ice cream parlor… but is it back?

I grew up in South Haven and have so many good memories of going to Sherman’s Dairy Bar with my family. For a special treat, we’d stop there before a trip to nearby Walmart or after one of little brother’s soccer games.

It was something you waited for all winter – Sherman’s Dairy to announce its opening day in the spring! The business first opened as a dairy farm in 1916 and began serving ice cream in 1958.

When I saw the Facebook announcement on the creamery’s closure this past fall, it really bummed me out. Though no longer available, the post read at the time,

We want our loyal fans to be the first to know: the 2024 season of Sherman’s Dairy Bar will be our last. We have loved being part of your summer traditions for 66 seasons, and we know many of you have fond memories of a scoop at Sherman’s.

As far as I know, an official reason for the closure was not shared. In comments online, folks commented with memories and their sadness at the news. Many wondered if it would reopen and what would happen to the dairy’s iconic blue cows perched up on the roof.

My family and I made one last trip to Sherman’s in October. I got my signature (gigantic) scoop of Cotton Candy Confetti ice cream in a waffle cone and said my goodbyes…

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But now it’s sounding like Sherman’s Dairy is back?

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In a post to the South Haven Chatline Facebook group, multiple South Haven residents say Sherman’s is once again serving ice cream!

John W. writes,

Rumors are definitely true, Sherman’s has reopened with new ownership. No line tonight. Cashier told me hours are 2-9 pm for now. Not sure on anything but the simple fact that the ice cream tastes the same as last year.

Others chimed in, saying they too had been. From the pictures, it looks like the cows are still there! The only change is that Sherman’s has been painted over on the brick wall on the side of the building, and the white Sherman’s sign out front is gone.

As far as an official name, some are saying it’s still called Sherman’s while others are referring to it as Moo’s. So is it the same Hudsonville Ice Cream? (Sherman’s stopped making their own in 2019.) According to some people, yes. In a different post to the group, Tom S. says,

Stopped in last night and they said they were scooping Sherman’s, Hudsonville and some Ashbys and might add Moovilles eventually.

Perhaps the confusion with MOO-ville and “Moo’s” is that the owners of Lake Arvesta recreation park also recently shared with the group that they’d begun serving MOO-ville Ice Cream.

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Either way, I’m just glad the iconic ice cream shop is once again serving up tasty treats!

It does not appear that the Sherman’s Dairy social media pages are still active, or its website — but it is no longer listed as “permanently closed” on Google!

I did call Sherman’s Dairy, and an employee answered the phone by saying, “Hello, this is Sherman’s Dairy of South Haven.” While they could not give me information on the new owners at this time, they did say that Sherman’s is now open seven days a week! The hours are Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunda,y 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

I can’t wait to visit soon! I hope they still have my favorite Cotton Candy Confetti.

To echo what many are saying online, hopefully the same thing happens for the beloved Golden Brown Bakery, which shuttered in downtown South Haven last year.