1972 marked the beginning of King’s Homemade Ice Cream. That year, Earl King purchased a general store on Union Street in the small village of Milton, Delaware, where he sold groceries, lunch meats, sandwiches, penny candy, and ice cream cones. Over time, Earl shifted his focus to ice cream production. Alongside his son Tom, he perfected recipes, sourced top-quality ingredients, and churned out what quickly became known as some of the best ice cream on the Eastern Shore.

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More than 50 years later, King’s Homemade Ice Cream continues to serve award-winning ice cream, frozen yogurts, sherbets, and water ices to thousands of loyal customers each year. In 1981, Tom and his wife Chris opened a second location in the historic town of Lewes, Delaware, expanding the family business while maintaining the same commitment to quality and tradition. By 1984, Tom and Chris became the sole owners of King’s and continued introducing new flavors, desserts, and menu offerings that generations of customers have come to love.

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The Milton location, where the ice cream is still manufactured today, operates out of the oldest commercial building in Sussex County, dating back to circa 1830. A historic marker outside the building recognizes its longstanding role in serving the Milton community. The Lewes location sits among the quaint shops and popular restaurants lining Second Street. Portions of the building date back to pre-Revolutionary War times and have housed everything from the county jail and a pharmacy to a market and propane business before becoming home to King’s in 1981.

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Both Milton and Lewes welcome thousands of visitors each year who come to experience the area’s beaches, history, architecture, and small-town charm. For many families, a stop at King’s has become part of that tradition — a summertime staple shared across generations.

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King’s Homemade Ice Cream has always believed in supporting the local community through charities, school programs, and town events. Rather than focusing on expansion, the family has remained committed to hands-on management of both locations to ensure the highest standards in both product quality and customer service.

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In 2010, Tom and Chris’ daughter Chelsea and her husband Rudy became owners of King’s, proudly carrying the business into its third generation. Rudy has helped modernize the shops while preserving their rich history, introducing updated designs, new flavors such as Dutch Chocolate, and a continued dedication to using only the finest ingredients. Today, Rudy and Chelsea’s three children have all worked in the shops as dippers, ice cream makers, and creators of new desserts and flavors — becoming the fourth generation preparing to carry on the legacy of King’s Homemade Ice Cream for years to come.