Isaly's (/ˈaɪzliːz/)[1] was a chain of family-owned dairies and restaurants started in Mansfield, Ohio, with locations throughout the American Midwest from the early 20th century until the 1970s.
The company was founded by William Isaly, grandson of Swiss immigrants who settled in Monroe County, Ohio, in the 19th century.
Isaly's early success was attributed to its loose company structure, which allowed for easy expansion without corporate overhead.
Expansion continued through the 1930s and 1940s with additional dairies built from Columbus, Ohio (at North High Street and Arcadia Avenue) west to Iowa and 310 stores.
The Youngstown dairy facility represented the apex of this project, with the streamlined building (with exterior by architect Charles F. Owsley) dominated by a five-story glass block tower.
In addition to the Klondike Bar, the dairies were also known for their Skyscraper Cones, created in Youngstown by plant supervisor Sam Jennings[4] which eschewed round ice cream scoops, instead using a patented design that resulted in a long, inverse-cone-shaped dip.
Shifting consumer demands, declining sales for home-delivered milk, as well as corporate consolidation led to the closing of Isaly facilities beginning in the 1960s.
There are at least three Isaly's still in operation in southwestern Pennsylvania in the areas of West View, Turtle Creek, and East Allegheny (city neighborhood of Pittsburgh), all retaining most of the classic interior.