LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA – There are some stores that feel so completely rooted to a place that you can’t imagine them existing anywhere else.
That always felt like the case with Pleasanton’s Meadowlark Dairy. The local gem started as a true dairy farm in 1919. Since 1969, the dairy and ice cream spot has operated out of the same drive-thru building downtown.
Very little has changed about Meadowlark since that time. Even the prices feel like they’re stuck in 1980, if not 1969.
Still, though, places suprise you. And that’s the case with Meadowlark. After a half-century in the same spot, the iconic local store announced last year that it would open a new branch in Livermore.
The New Meadowlark Spot
The build-out took a while. But as of December 23 (the soft open), Meadowlark in Livermore is officially open!
I stopped by to check it out with my family. The new spot is built in an old bank building.
That means plenty of parking, which is a nice perk, as the Pleasanton spot can get tight. There’s also a multi-cart drive thru from the bank, although Meadowlark isn’t using it yet. In the Summer, that might change.
The dairy is still clearly settling into its new building. The drive-thru hasn’t been changed much at all, and there are still the little pneumatic tubes that people used to make bank deposits!
The outside has plenty of cow puns, which I appreciate, calling out the new location as Livermore, Cow-ifornia.
And the classic MILK sign from the original has been duplicated at the new spot.
January is a tough season for small publishers like us. But thanks to our readers and your help with sharing our stories, the month is finishing strong! Will you please help us out and share this article on your Nextdoor or Facebook? It makes a big difference.
Inside, it’s a minimalist space with plenty of room for people to line up and get their ice cream. The ability to stand inside while waiting in line is a huge change from the outdoor-only Pleasanton location.
True to the original dairy concept, there are big fridges and freezers selling milk, butter and other dairy items–both artisan local varieties and the kinds of things you’d get at the supermarket.
The line moves fast. And when you get to the front, you’ll find one thing hasn’t changed–Meadowlark’s simple menu, and its very low prices.
Meadowlark has just a few flavors of ice cream–Vanilla, Chocolate, Orange, Strawberry and Pineapple, plus occasional short term flavors. In this case, they had a kid-friendly cotton candy one.
There are no toppings. You choose between a cup and a cone. There are also slushies and shakes.
And that’s about it. The simplicity lets them serve lots of people at once. And again, it keeps prices low. A “small”, which is actually not small at all, goes for $3.50.
If your kids are willing to share, two can easily split a single small cup (mine were not, so we had ice cream left over). A Medium size is only 50 cents more.
After ordering, you pick up your ice cream and can take it outside to a nice little dining area out front with tables. Again, the inclusion of spots to sit is a nice addition in the new, bigger space. In Pleasanton, you’re generally eating in the car.
Indoor tables would be great for Winter. But for now at least, it’s an outdoor only situation.
How’s the Ice Cream?
In terms of the ice cream itself, it’s the same iconic stuff Meadowlark has served for generations in Pleasanton. It’s delicious and feels like a throwback to a forgotten time, especially as many Bay Area ice cream places go for ultra-artisan, weird flavors or production methods (though I do love a good liquid nitrogen ice cream too…)
Again, Meadowlark has been open for less than a month, and much of that was a soft open to test the waters. Many things are still a work in progress. Instead of a mural, a big blank wall has a little sign reading “Mural coming soon.”
Meadowlark will probably fully come into its own over the Summer, in the high season for ice cream. When that rolls around, it will be great to have a second location for the classic dairy, as Pleasanton can get jammed.
For now, though, stop by and enjoy the new spot while it’s still little-known. Given the prices and the tasty ice cream, the crowds will be coming in short order.
Want to know about every new restaurant opening in the 925? Join my free 925 News newsletter so I can keep you in the loop.
