Lafayette, Louisiana · Founded 1940 · Building: 1940
A 1940 Lafayette ice-cream parlor that survives as the last retail outlet in the former Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe network.
Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe opened in Lafayette in 1940 as one of the Borden company’s nationwide retail ice-cream parlors. While the broader retail network disappeared, the Lafayette store endured through several ownership changes. It is now owned by the Lerille family and presents itself as the last retail Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe in the world.
A Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe is built and opens in Lafayette as part of Borden's nationwide retail parlor network.
Source: Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history; University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"
Ella Meaux begins work at Borden's and later becomes a long-serving figure at the Lafayette parlor.
Source: Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history
Former owner Flora Levy dies and leaves the Borden's property and retail store to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, later the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"; Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history
The university foundation leases the Borden's shop to operators while holding title to the property and retail store.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"
Borden's receives a statement of significance in its official business history.
Source: Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation sells the Borden's retail store and property to local businessman Red Lerille.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"; Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history
A KLFY Acadiana feature reports that Borden's remains an active downtown Lafayette landmark.
Source: KLFY, "Acadiana Eats: Borden's Ice Cream"
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
The Borden's official site calls the Lafayette parlor the last retail Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe in the world. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation described it as the last Borden's retail ice-cream shop in the United States when it sold the property in 2009. The claim concerns the old retail parlor network, not Borden-branded dairy products sold elsewhere.
This review found no support for a Kross-family purchase or exclusive trademark-license arrangement. In 1981, Flora Levy left the property to the university foundation, which held it until selling the business and building to Red Lerille in 2009.
The shop's ownership changed over time, including Levy-family ownership, a 1981 transfer to the university foundation, foundation leasing to operators, and a 2009 sale to the Lerille family. Its survival is notable, but it is not a one-family ownership story.
The Lafayette Borden's opened in 1940, but this review did not compare it with earlier Louisiana ice-cream parlors, soda fountains, confectioneries, closures, or successor businesses. Its verified distinction is the survival of the Borden retail-shop format, not a statewide oldest title.
Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe has been independently owned by the Kross family since 1981.
Flora Levy left the shop and property to the university foundation in 1981. The foundation held and leased the store until it sold the business and property to Red Lerille in 2009.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"; Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official history
The Lafayette store is still owned and managed by the Borden Dairy corporation.
The Lerille family has owned the store and property since 2009. The shop’s historic Borden identity reflects its survival from the former retail network, not current Borden corporate ownership.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"
Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe is at 1103 Johnston Street.
The current postal address is 1103 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, Louisiana.
Source: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, "Foundation Sells Borden's Shop, Property to Lerille Family"; current business listing
The last-store claim means that Borden-branded dairy products no longer exist.
The claim concerns the former retail ice-cream-parlor network. Borden and Elsie branding continue to appear in other dairy-product contexts.
Source: Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe official website; Dairy Foods, "Borden Dairy is energized and excited"
Borden’s survived because local owners and institutions treated it as a community landmark rather than a disposable corporate relic. After Flora Levy left the property to the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1981, the university foundation continued leasing the store to operators. Red Lerille bought the business and property in 2009, preserving the old-fashioned shop after the national Borden retail format had vanished.
Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe opened in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1940 as part of Borden's nationwide retail ice-cream-parlor network. In 1981, former owner Flora Levy left the property to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, whose foundation leased the shop to operators. The foundation sold the store and property to Red Lerille in 2009, and the shop remains open under Lerille family ownership.
No verified evidence establishes Borden's as Louisiana’s oldest ice-cream parlor. It opened in 1940, and this review did not complete a statewide comparison of older Louisiana competitors. Its documented distinction is that it is the last surviving retail Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
The Lerille family owns Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe. Red Lerille bought the retail store and property from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation in May 2009, preserving the longtime Lafayette parlor.
1103 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 235-9291
Confirm current counter, drive-through, dining, and holiday hours directly with Borden's before visiting.