Think back to when you were about 7 years old on a regular Saturday afternoon in July, and the weather is nowhere cool. You run around in the front yard with your neighborhood best friend in an effort to catch some sort of breeze to keep cool, but you know that it can’t last forever. You’re both starving and thankfully, there are freshly grilled hot dogs ready to be devoured. And to douse the heat from this particular summer day, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce on top or in other words: a hot fudge sundae.

For most, a hot fudge sundae is a simple treat that can be made at home or bought at the nearest McDonald’s. But it’s story is more complex than that. The “simple" treat known as the hot fudge sundae was created in Los Angeles, California by a man named Clarence Clifton Brown aka C.C. Brown, who was originally a candy maker. Through his love and creativity with ice cream he created a treat that became part of American history.

What the hot fudge is C.C. Brown’s?

Ice cream has been part of our lives for as long as we can remember. Literally. We can thank Venetian merchant, Marco Polo for that. He although didn’t invent ice cream by himself, but historians believe that in the 16th century he brought to Italy a similar ice cream recipe that evolved to today’s ice cream that eventually made its way to the United States, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. Since then, ice cream has spread all across the world and transformed into the different flavors, variations and creations that we love today.

Although ice cream was not invented by just one person, the same cannot be said about the hot fudge sundae. Brown began making hot fudge sundaes in 1906 at his ice cream parlor, C.C. Brown’s, first located in Downtown LA before moving to its permanent location at 7007 Hollywood Blvd. in 1925.

In the 1960s, Brown's family sold the business to a Carnation Dairy chemist, John Schumacher, and he and his family ran the shop until it’s closing in 1996.

C.C. Brown's back then before it's close

The area where C.C. Brown's would be today

Tim Schumacher, part of the family owned business, says it was no surprise his family went into the ice cream business.

“Our family, every single day when we were little, would have an ice cream sundae. It was something we did naturally,” he said.

When John Schumacher and his wife, Jo Ellen Schumacher, took over C.C. Brown’s, they knew that they had to get the whole family involved.

“We grew up there,” Tim Schumacher said. “When we were little my parents would take us to the store, we slept underneath the counters at night when they were still working. We’d go home ‘round midnight, 1 o’clock in the morning. [When we were older] everybody had their own job.”

Not only did the Schumacher’s love working at C.C. Brown’s, the customers also loved being there. C.C. Brown’s was not like a typical ice cream parlor or shop because it was run more like a restaurant, with waiters and bus persons. But, what really set them apart from all the others was the famous C.C. Brown’s hot fudge sundae.

Remembering C.C. Brown's

A sundae and a place that is still a sweet memory to those that were able to experience it. Among many memories made, chocolatier Mike Graves, owner of Du-Par’s Restaurant and Bakery, Frances Tario and previous waiter, Tim Schumacher give a glimpse to what once was C.C. Brown’s.

Mike Graves, chocolatier

Frances Tario, entrepreneur

Tim Schumacher, waiter

The World on hot fudge

Twenty five years have passed since C.C. Brown’s closed for good. And although it’s gone, ice cream and hot fudge sundaes are not! In 2020, the United States consumed the second-most ice cream per capita, 20.8 liters per person in the U.S. Whereas, New Zealand topped the United States with 28.4 liters per person. This doesn’t sound like much, but the population of the U.S. is about 66 times the population size of New Zealand’s, so you can imagine all the brain freezes they are having!

Though Americans come in second in ice cream consumption within the past year, it is the highest consumption of ice cream per capita since the 1980s. Even though the consumption has fluctuated over the years, there has still been a steady trend that shows Americans will not be putting this sweet treat down anytime soon. Which has most likely contributed to the various ice cream shops that appeal to ice cream lovers of all variations dairy or dairy free.

Even though there are different outlets to buy ice cream, there is nothing like going to an ice cream shop to get different scoop flavors, ice cream creations and experience the ambiance of going to a store just for a frozen treat! “Look, you can buy it in the [grocery] store a lot cheaper than you can buy it at a [ice cream shop] store,” said B. Scott Bennett, owner of Bennett’s Ice Cream, a family owned ice cream shop, located at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles.

Bennett's Ice Cream at the Original Farmers Market

Not only is it fun to go to a store that is specifically made for ice cream, but you also have the luxury of having a variety of ways to enjoy ice cream. And although there is such a thing as an original hot fudge sundae, each ice cream shop has their own that is their own interpretation of the treat. For example, some ice cream shops are all about the hot fudge or other sundae sauces, it’s crucial for their customers to be loaded up, so there is no way it could be missed. Others focus more on the presentation and try to stray away from the traditional cup or waffle bowl, so they create their own sundae vessel, like a plastic boat that can hold something with plenty of scoops and toppings. Regardless, all are solely constructed based on the aesthetic of the shop, which can stray very far from the original version. Some are even based on the owners or ice cream makers preference that they know they’re customers will love because of their expertise and knowledge of their customers!

The Legacy of C.C. Brown's

Almost every ice cream shop in the United States has a version of a hot fudge sundae. And with a few simple ingredients you can make your own. But, there will never be another C.C Brown’s. However, the parlor may be gone, but the hot fudge sundae is still alive today and can be bought!

“In 2006, we actually sold the rights and the recipes to Lawry’s restaurants, so those are who currently own it right now,” said Schumacher.

Lawry’s not only has the C.C. Brown’s hot fudge sundae on its menu, the restaurant chain also sells the hot fudge sauce online.

Like an iPhone, hot fudge sundaes, are an everyday treat for most, an item that is ordinary and uncomplicated on the surface, but has an interesting and complex history. We can thank C.C. Brown for the creation, but also the Schumacher family for its continuation. Not only that, but for being pioneers in the creation of other types of sundaes like a brownie sundae or the well-known banana split sundae. The banana split sundae would not exist without the ambition to create an interesting sundae that is more than the scoop of vanilla, hot fudge, roasted almonds and whipped cream. A sundae that consists of a banana split down the middle, three individual scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry with chocolate, strawberry and pineapple sauce drizzled on top, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry to complete it.

“…[It’s] fun to know that the legacy still lives on even though the shop is not there anymore,” Tim Schumacher said.

Today, there is no specific way to make a hot fudge sundae due to the all of its variations and because no person is the same. Each person is able to make their sundae how they like from all of the possibilities of ice creams, toppings and sauces. Solidifying this treat as timeless from its legacy and room for creativity.

"I don’t think there’s ever going to be a time where they’re in or out,” Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fountain Co-owner, Brandon Shahniani said.

However, there is only one original hot fudge sundae, which consists of vanilla ice cream, roasted almonds, whipped cream and C.C. Brown’s hot fudge.