Sisler’s to cease ice cream production; business will focus exclusively on ice and Princeton shop

After 4 generations in business, Ohio, IL based Sisler’s has announced it will stop ice cream production, focusing instead on ice production and sales.

The announcement, made via a social media post from the Sisler family, stated that this month will mark the end of ice cream production and retail sales, in part due to the retirement of Jimmy Anderson (husband of Sisler partner Karen), who had taken over production after the untimely death of third generation producer Billy Sisler a decade ago.

The Sisler family also pointed to several more recent challenges that lead to the decision including labor shortages, supply chain issues and ingredient shortages.

“We wholeheartedly wish we could continue making Sisler’s ice cream forever,” reads the family statement. “And it is with very mixed emotions that we communicate this decision.”

Though large-scale production and sales will cease, fans of Sisler’s still will have the opportunity to get their favorites at the Princeton shop run by Billy’s children Tieg and Lucas.

The shop, which opened in June 2021 will continue a small batch operation, producing ice cream on site.

“Me and my brother decided to continue the small batch production at our shop so that we could continue to serve our community with the product they all know and love,” Tieg Sisler said. “We opened this shop in memory of our father, Billy, and it’s so important to us to follow in his footsteps and keep his dream alive.”

“Our father was the head ice cream maker for years at Sisler’s and his passing made it difficult to decide on what to do next,” she said. “Luckily my Uncle Jimmy stepped up and has been making the ice cream for the past 10 years.”

Tieg said that before opening the shop the family had already discussed her and her brother taking over the ice cream production on a much smaller scale.

“Running the shop, we decided to scale down to make the production more manageable,” Tieg said. ”So far the response from our community has been very supportive. We hope that everyone will continue to support our business and bear with us during the transition process.”

The Princeton shop, located at 421 S. Main St., in Princeton will reopen in the coming weeks.