Since its inception over four years ago, Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor and Treatery in Turlock has served up mouthwatering burgers and satisfying salads, tantalizing curly fries and delectable sundaes to old and new faces alike. 

However, what keeps customers coming back time and time again is the parlor and treatery’s floats, shakes and malts.

“The favorite shake among customers is a good old fashioned strawberry or cookies and cream milkshake,” said owner Patricia Ashman. “Those or the sundae shake.”

For a little over $5, customers can get a standard milkshake made with any flavor of ice cream and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. With 28 flavors offered at the parlor and treatery, customers can customize their milkshake with a variety of flavors ranging from “caramel dream” to “wildberry sorbet.” 

As another customer favorite available at just short of $6, the sundae shake is swirled to perfection with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and English toffee, with the finished product topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

“We make our milkshakes by hand using real ice cream—the old fashioned way,” said Ashman. “You can’t get an old fashioned ice cream milkshake at a different restaurant. Lulu’s is the only place around that does it.”

Marisa Martinez and Lillie Camarillo shared a table at Lulu’s on Wednesday to enjoy a cookies and cream milkshake and a mint chocolate chip milkshake, respectively.

“The milkshakes are always good,” said Martinez. “This is my favorite place to get a milkshake.”

In addition to milkshakes, customers can also order a root beer float, which consists of a frosted glass of root beer topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, for $3.75 or a malt for $5.69.

“A lot of people have never tried a malt and they should definitely try a malt,” said Ashman.

Ashman revealed that she decided to open Lulu’s over four years ago in an effort to fill the void left after Penguin Ice Cream closed down.

“I was talking to my friends and we were all missing Penguin. There wasn’t an old fashioned ice cream place anymore like when I was growing up,” said Ashman. “We decided that we needed a new Penguin, especially for families.”

Since opening Lulu’s, Ashman has strived to offer old fashioned ice cream and a family-like environment—two things that she believes makes Lulu’s different from competitors.

“We have a fun family environment and great service,” said Ashman. “We’ve all become friends with everyone that walks in the door.”

“I think we have the best customers and that is what makes Lulu’s great — the customers,” added Ashman.

Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor and Treatery is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The parlor and treatery is located at 2054 East Canal Drive in Turlock.

For more information, visit lulusicecreamparlor.com or call 667-5858.