What Famous Brands Got Their Start in Youngstown, Ohio?
The city of Youngstown is the heart of Northeast Ohio. It’s close enough to Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh to be convenient, but far enough to maintain its small-town charm. It was forged from steel, and through all of its highs and lows, continues to thrive thanks to sheer grit and determination. Innovation is in Youngstown’s blood, so it should be no surprise that numerous successful brands got their start in this unassuming town, many of which went on to become household names. Whether you’re from Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman, Canfield or anywhere in the Valley, the pride for these homegrown success stories is strong.
Arby’s
If you’ve ever visited the Mahoning Valley, there’s a good chance you’ve driven past the Arby’s at the bustling intersection of Boardman-Poland Road and Market Street in Boardman, Ohio. With Arby’s franchises in nearly every town in America, you may not have recognized this location’s significance. This seemingly ordinary fast food location is actually the very first Arby’s restaurant ever opened.
Forrest and Leroy Raffel grew up in the Youngstown area and founded Arby’s in 1964. Fast food was just becoming popular in the US, but rather than trying to appeal to children with burgers and cartoon characters like everyone else, the Raffel brothers catered to a more sophisticated palate, featuring the classic thin-sliced roast beef sandwiches that Arby’s is now famous for. If the menu wasn’t enough to set Arby’s apart from its competition, the 40-foot neon cowboy hat sign out front forced people to take notice.
After rapidly expanding through the 1970s, Arby’s always stayed on the cutting edge, striving to keep up with the latest trends, while remaining loyal to its classic appeal. Today, Arby’s restaurants are found all over the world, and although the Raffel family sold their company to Royal Crown Cola Company in the 70s, Arby’s wouldn’t be who they are today without its strong roots in Boardman Township. The Boardman Arby’s location has since moved across the street from where it originally stood, but it is still known as its flagship store.
Schwebel’s Bakery
No list of Youngstown brands would be complete without mentioning Schwebel’s Bakery. This family-owned regional producer and distributor of bread and other baked goods can be found in nearly every grocery store in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Schwebels is known for its high-quality products, but it’s loved for its inspirational story.
Joseph and Dora Schwebel began baking bread in the early 20th century. For nearly two decades, they sold their baked goods out of their Youngstown home, delivering 40 loaves of bread each day to neighbors in their community. Despite their humble beginnings, the Schwebels family eventually opened their first commercial bakery in 1923. Production grew to 1,000 loaves daily to meet the increasing demands, and things were looking promising for the Schwebels until Joseph’s sudden death in 1928. Dora was left to lead the company alone, which was no small feat for a woman in her 30s, but she refused to give up on her family’s dream.
Mrs. Schwebel’s determination paid off, and in 1951 she moved her company into the million-dollar Midlothian Boulevard plant where it still stands today, blanketing the city of Youngstown in its delicious aroma. Over a century later, Schwebel’s Bakery is still owned and operated by the Schwebel’s family and is now producing nearly 1,000,000 loaves of bread a day between its two locations. Their slogan, “Youngstown Born, Youngstown Bread,” is a perfect testament to what keeps them strong after all these years.
Good Humor Ice Cream
Ice cream trucks have been synonymous with summer for generations, but did you know that the very first ice cream truck got its start right here in Youngstown, Ohio? Harry Burt, founder of Good Humor Ice Cream, got his start at 18 years old by opening a penny candy store and ice cream parlor in Youngstown in 1893. He experimented with a wide range of confectionery treats over the years before striking gold with the invention of the first ice cream bar, which he dubbed the “Good Humor Bar.”
It was the first ice cream to be served on a stick, a convenience that allowed him to deliver his new creation directly to consumers from a refrigerated truck with bobsled bells attached to it. The Good Humor Bar’s popularity soared, and the concept of the ice cream truck was embraced by the community. Burt quickly bought a fleet of trucks and expanded into a spacious manufacturing site on West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown. Good Humor Bars were soon sold all over the Mahoning Valley from ice cream trucks, all of which were driven by a “Good Humor Man” sporting the company’s signature all-white ensemble. Today, that manufacturing site is home to the Tyler History Center, where visitors can learn about the city’s past and even buy Good Humor Bars in the gift shop as a nod to its sweet history.
After Burt’s death in 1926, his thriving business was acquired by an investor and catapulted to national fame. Today, Good Humor Ice Cream is owned by Unilever and its products are sold in grocery stores around the world.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
If you’ve ever stood in line on a hot summer night, you already understand why Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is one of Youngstown’s sweetest success stories. The very first Handel’s opened in 1945, when Alice Handel began serving ice cream out of her husband’s gas station. Her creations, made fresh, one batch at a time, with real fruit and quality ingredients, quickly earned a loyal following.
Word spread, and before long, Handel’s became a local institution synonymous with summer evenings and family traditions. The original location, which is still open today on Handel’s Court in Youngstown, remains a beloved landmark for both locals and visitors. Over the years, it grew from that single location into a nationally recognized brand with franchises across the United States. Out of all the locations across the country, Mahoning County alone is home to six, showing just how deeply rooted the brand is in its hometown. Despite the growth, Handel’s has never strayed from Alice’s original vision: crafting ice cream with uncompromising quality and flavor.
Youngstown Sheet and Tube
No brand is more integrated into the legacy of Youngstown than Youngstown Sheet and Tube. The Mahoning Valley’s proximity to shipping ports, coal fields and limestone deposits created the perfect storm for a robust steel-making industry to emerge in the late 19th century. As the country began to shift from iron to cheaper and more durable steel products, George Wick and James Campbell seized the opportunity to establish Youngstown Sheet and Tube, a company that eventually became one of the leading steel manufacturers in the United States.
The demand for steel boomed during World War II, allowing Wick and Campbell to expand operations to two mills: the Campbell Works and the Briar Hill Works. Youngstown Sheet and Tube quickly became the largest employer in the Mahoning Valley. The promise of steady work attracted immigrants to Youngstown from all over the world, weaving the diverse cultural tapestry that still defines the area today. As the population soared to its peak of over 170,000 residents, Youngstown enjoyed economic prosperity and a true sense of shared community as residents worked together in the mills.
Unfortunately, after the war ended, steel demand fell, and Youngstown Sheet and Tube, along with Youngstown’s economy, never fully recovered. The steel mills struggled to stay afloat for decades before their abrupt closure in 1977, a day known to locals as “Black Monday.” The loss of so many jobs contributed to a rapid population decline as the “Steel Valley” devolved into the “Rust Belt.” Although the glory days of the steel mills are long gone, their abandoned shells still form the steel backbone of the city as a shared history and source of pride for all its residents.
Youngstown’s Legacy Lives On
The spirit of Youngstown pulses through countless family-owned businesses that got their start here in the Mahoning Valley, and there are undoubtedly more to come. The pride residents feel for their city is evidenced by the strong community support they give to their small businesses. It’s no surprise that Youngstown’s strength, resilience and determination have grown so many high-quality, long-lasting brands.
Planning a trip to Mahoning County? Be sure to download our free Youngstown Area Travel Guide to discover even more local favorites and hidden gems.
