Updated, Aug. 21, 2019 / This 7-year-old post continues to be visited quite regularly on this website, likely because so many memories were made at Cock Robin restaurants throughout Chicagoland between 1955 and 2000. PN is happy to report that the Cock Robin story will be remembered when a new Cock Robin Restaurant finds a location in an open-air marketplace at the gateway to Sonoma County wine country in California sometime soon.
The new Cock Robin will feature a classic menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, golden french fries with a One-in-million milkshake. Other quality items on the super simple menu will include vegetarian burgers, non-dairy milk shakes, Caesar salad, lemonade, beer and wine. As plans quickly continue to develop, we’ll provide the square scoop. Stay tuned!
Originally Posted, Dec. 29, 2012 / For nearly a year, thanks to the gracious encouragement of Rita Fredenhagen Harvard who died at age 82 on June 15, 2012, Tim Penick has been working on an initiative to bring back Cock Robin memories. Penick’s intention has been to celebrate the history and culture of the independently-owned ice cream enterprise and Naperville Creamery that made its home just north of the Washington Street Bridge for nearly 70 years.
Today, the property along the Riverwalk is a gateway to downtown Naperville and North Central College known as Fredenhagen Park, named after Rita’s parents, Grace and Walter Fredenhagen, local entrepreneurs who owned the popular ice cream shop “where memories were made.” First called Prince Castle, then Cock Robin in 1955 and growing by 1967 with 25 locations, the family ice cream business known for its square dips of rainbow sherbet and “One in a Million” milkshakes was a Naperville gathering place from 1931 until 2000.
The first order for the new t-shirt business came from John Harvard, Rita’s husband, who purchased enough shirts to outfit his family. Imagine PN’s thrill when Harvard said he was planning for his entire family to wear the shirts for their Christmas photo. Special thanks to Megan Schaeffer for sending the photo.
Harvard, pictured in the white “Be ONE in a million” t-shirt, is surrounded by his children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
One independent business helps another
The slate blue Cock Robin t-shirts are screen printed by ColorBurst, a nonprofit enterprise run by Naperville-based Little Friends, Inc., in Downers Grove. Founded in 1996, ColorBurst Screen Printing specializes in custom printed t-shirts and apparel, and is committed to quality service and on-time delivery, offering job skills training and employment opportunities for adults with autism and other developmental challenges. Employment at ColorBurst empowers these individuals with a sense of purpose and accomplishment, providing integration into the community.
On the back of every t-shirt is a subtle design featuring the Little Friends’ logo to help raise awareness for the nonprofit organization established in 1965, now serving children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities via a variety of programs. Proceeds from ColorBurst Screen Printing help to fund the programs and services of Little Friends.
Cock Robin-related stories posted here…
To view how this story has unfolded since July 2012, simply use the “search” tool in the upper right of this web page. Search “Cock Robin.”
For many mentions and photos of Fredenhagen Park and our friend, Rita Fredenhagen Harvard (1929-2012), visit PN’s collection of posts.
