4 minute read
Delicious Delights (Quad Cities)
Delicious Delights Lagomarcino’s: Soda Fountain/Confectionary
By Kandy Derden / Things To Do Editor
Photos by David Derden and Lisa Duchesne
If you ask Beth Lagomarcino, she’ll tell you being in the ice cream business is the best job in the whole world. Why? It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re eating ice cream. Her favorite part of the job is meeting and talking to the people who frequent her shop. “Throughout the years, our customers have grown up and then brought their kids in to see us. Now some of them are bringing their grandchildren in to experience the old-fashioned soda fountain atmosphere.”
Lagomarcino’s Confectionary, now affectionately nicknamed Lago’s, was founded in 1908 by Angelo and Luigia Lagomarcino, who were immigrants from Northern Italy. In 1921 the business was moved to the present location in Moline, Illinois. A new soda fountain was installed along with candy counters and locally-built booths which are still in use. The decision to make their own chocolates and ice cream came in the 1930’s during the Great Depression.
By the 1940’s, the second generation of Lagomarcino’s had joined the profession. The 1970’s also brought changes. Many other stores moved away from downtown locales to gain visibility in malls. However, Lago’s remained and added fruit baskets to their list of specialties. At that time, fruit was delivered in wooden boxes. A few of these vintage crates are still on display in the Moline location.
The third generation of Lagomarcino’s chose the family business as their vocation in the 1980’s. 1997 brought expansion in the form of a second site in Davenport, Iowa. Beth’s sister, Lisa, is overseeing operations in this location which also contains an old-fashioned soda fountain. The menus are alike in both shops plus all ice cream specialties and chocolates are available in each store. :
To recognize the 100th anniversary of continued business, a celebration was held with . . . what else? . . . an old-fashioned ice cream social! Plus, in honor of this accomplishment, stained glass was added to the decor. It makes an interesting statement about the Lagomarcino’s heritage. The first pane of glass is designed to depict the original Tiffany-style lanterns used throughout the shop. The second pane is a fruit basket reminiscent of that portion of the trade. The third provides a visual image representing the hills of Italy. All of these are situated to draw attention to the many family photos which chronical the legacy of the family and their livelihood.
Even though the business has experienced some changes through the decades, it still retains a reputation for handdipped chocolates, homemade ice cream and hot fudge sundaes. Delicious lunches are available also. Lagomarcino’s menu includes a variety of sandwiches, available cold or grilled, served on your choice of white, wheat or their signature homemade Swedish Rye bread. Even if you think you don’t like rye bread, give this a try. It has a lite flavor which is delicious when grilled. Don’t forget their tasty homemade potato salad as the perfect accompaniment to their yummy sandwiches. Of course, no lunch would be complete without an ice cream sundae. All of the ice cream is made on site, so the biggest problem is making your selection from among so many luscious choices.
Resisting the wide variety of gourmet dipped chocolates is almost impossible. The cream fillings are made on the premises in the original Moline store and dipped in chocolate at their Davenport location. If you live too far away to visit the shop, check the website for information about delivery and shipping.
So, what’s next? I’m sure Beth and Lisa’s grandfather, Angelo, would be proud to learn his legacy lives on with the addition of Beth’s son, Daniel, joining the team plus his daughter, Katie, to accept the challenge to “Make Life Sweet” for this era and beyond.
