Pittsburgh is famous for many things: hockey, football, baseball, the sandwiches with the French fries on them, but none of these are as sweet as Klavon’s Ice cream Parlor. In 1932, James and his wife Mary Klavon opened Klavon’s as a pharmacy and worked hard at the family business until James died in 1979. The establishment then shut its doors for 20 years.
In 1999, one of James Klavon’s eight grandchildren, Ray, was inspired to reopen the building’s doors as an ice cream parlor when he retired from his career as a grade school art teacher at Pittsburgh Public Schools. Ray Klavon was a simple yet whimsical man, setting the scene in the parlor to resemble something out of a 1920’s ice cream parlor, with the tile floors, the swivel chairs, and the candy hidden behind the glass counter. Klavon’s quickly became a favorite sweet escape for the cities many patrons. Ray was always there when he was needed; he was always lending a helping hand and contributing whenever he could. He was a private man, said his sister. Though one thing he was passionate about was selling monthly tickets to OUTrageous Bingo. Some say that Ray was the sweetest thing at Klavon’s.
Earlier this year, Ray left us, as he succumbed to lung cancer. He will be missed by so many in the community but his legacy lives on with family, friends and patrons alike sharing memories and stories of “Ray the Ice cream man. “ Perhaps the best lasting memory is the giant mural of Ray that is painted on the side of the building as he stands watching over Klavon’s for many years to come.
