Ted Drewes has been selling frozen custard and Christmas trees for decades, with an attention to quality that has made his trees and custard the finest in St. Louis. It all started when Ted Sr. opened his first ice cream store in Florida in 1929, followed the next year by an other store on Natural Bridge in St. Louis and the South Grand store in 1931. In 1941 the family opened a second south side stand which is the current Chippewa location, old route 66. By 1958, the south side stands were all that remained. According to Ted Jr., the success of the operation has brought it nationwide attention in the form of offers to franchise the stands. He said such offers pour in quite frequently. However he has never agreed to franchise and he says that he never will.