Cock Robin t-shirts bring back ‘One in a Million’ memories

This holiday season, folks have been ordering t-shirts featuring Cock Robin, the iconic bird that for decades made square ice cream dips famous.

Gone but not forgotten, the independently-owned ice cream enterprise is a shining example of successful entrepreneurship with local roots that got its start right in the heart of downtown Naperville. Today Fredenhagen Park sits on the site of the former ice cream restaurant where happy memories were made first at Prince Castle, then at Cock Robin, from 1931 to 2000..

The other day, it happened again! A Positively Naperville reader ordered the “Outfit a Family” with Cock Robin t-shirts, a package of five commemorative t-shirts emblazoned with “Be ONE in a Million” and the logo that’s available online at www.positivelynaperville.com.

Since August, individual slate blue t-shirts have been available in six adult sizes—small, medium, large, extra large, 2X large and 3X large—at Anderson’s Bookshop and Oswald’s Pharmacy. T-shirts are priced from $18 for small, medium and large; to $20 for extra large sizes.

The special “Outfit a Family” package can be purchased online in quantities of five or ten.

“The Cock Robin ‘Be ONE in a Million’ t-shirt is a perfect stocking stuffer,” said Tim Penick, who came up with the idea and coordinated the production with Color Burst, a division of Little Friends, Inc.. “I’ve got to admit, it’s exciting when somebody orders five or ten t-shirts at a time. You know there’s a good story that comes with the order.”

For instance, Debbie Litoborski placed a large “Outfit the Family” order because she grew up working in her family’s Cock Robin Ice Cream business in Berwyn. She wanted to surprise her mother who had owned the store.

Still, most folks place individual orders.

“When I got wind we could purchase a piece of history, meaning the Cock Robin t-shirt, I jumped at it!” said Jean Weathers of Broadview, Illinois. “I could not believe someone had put a piece of history on a shirt..how happy was I. I immediately ordered mine and will wear it with pride…It brings back so many memories of when we use to venture to the Cock Robin— or Prince Castle as we sometimes called it— during the 60′s, 70′s. 80′s, and part of the 90′s before the establishment closed its doors for good. I think the last one to go was located in Naperville.”

Weathers reminisced about the Cock Robin in Melrose Park. “I remember always getting one of those One In A Million Malts. Mine would be with caramel and I loved it, also those flat hamburgers but oh they tasted so good, and then the square scoop different flavored ice cream on a cone….those were such good memories…Loved that place…..glad I got the tshirt whoever thought of that, great idea! ”

All t-shirts are screen printed at Color Burst, a division of Little Friends, Inc., a nonprofit organization in Naperville that’s dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism and other developmental challenges. All profits generated by ColorBurst help to fund the range of support programs offered by Little Friends, Inc.

For more info, visit  www.littlefriendsinc.org.