Superior Dairy Restoration

Superior Dairy, a Hanford cultural landmark since 1929 and one of the rare surviving examples of an American dairy and soda fountain. New owners Andy and Jacob Zonneveld describe why buying Superior Dairy Products feels personal, not just financial. Their multi-generational dairy farming background in the Lemoore area and their interest in vertical integration shaped the decision: grow feed, raise cows, produce milk, and eventually make more value-added dairy products. Jacob’s dairy processing education and industry experience adds a practical lens to the dream. Their goal is clear in every detail: preserve what people remember while building a business that can serve Hanford for the next hundred years.

Restoration, they explain, means opening walls and discovering the real condition of a historic building. The team has found artifacts in the attic, old cartons, branded glassware, mugs, and even 1950s newspapers used as insulation. Those finds are nostalgic, but they also point to the need for modern infrastructure, ADA accessibility, and durable systems. Plumbing issues, patchy concrete, and even tree roots invading pipes pushed the project toward a near total rebuild inside the existing shell. Working with designers, they plan to keep signature elements like the tin ceiling, lighting, and pink booths while upgrading finishes and workflow so the restaurant can operate efficiently.

The vision goes beyond a single counter. The plan includes a preserved dine-in area and a larger takeout fast-casual space with seating, plus an outdoor seating concept on the library side of 9th Street using large glass doors. A flexible enclosed area can serve as a meeting room, coffee group spot, or kids birthday party space. They also want the history to live on site through displays of milk cans, clippings, and equipment, with longer-term phases that could let guests see ice cream production. On the menu, they aim to keep beloved classics like tuna and egg salad sandwiches while adding a full kitchen for burgers, fries, and more. Superior’s ice cream is still made in-house, and they’re weighing future retail expansion while continuing partnerships with local restaurants and food service customers. The story is ultimately about preservation with purpose: honoring a landmark while building a modern, community-centered Hanford restaurant and ice cream shop.