A ‘Top 10 Best Place To Get Ice Cream In Minnesota’ Is Now Open

If there's a single image that says "summer in Duluth" without saying a word, it's the line of people near Fitgers on  Superior Street, all waiting their turn for a true taste of summer at the Portland Malt Shoppe.

I've stood in that line more times than I can count, and I'll be in it again this summer. While some people may see the line and decide not to wait, that's a mistake, because as the old saying goes, "the juice is worth the squeeze." I'm not a fan of that saying, but I do find it funny, and it's certainly true in this case.

If you're ready for a sweet treat near Lake Superior, you'll be happy to know that the Portland Malt Shoppe has opened for the 2026 season.

From Gas Station to Duluth Landmark

Believe it or not, the building that now houses the Portland Malt Shoppe was built in 1921 as a gas station for Northwestern Oil Company.

Harry and Edith Rogers managed the gas station for many years. In the 1970s, the building was purchased for a small dress boutique called the Portland Village. Following tradition, when the current owners purchased the building in 1989, it became the Portland Malt Shoppe.

2026 Season Hours: From Opening Week Through Late September

The Portland Malt Shoppe will be following a seasonal schedule again this year, with hours stretching out as the days get longer and pulling back as fall closes in.

Here's the full breakdown:

• May 1 - May 7: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Sunday through Saturday)
• May 8 - June 4: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• June 5 - August 16: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. (peak summer hours)
• August 17 - August 30: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• CLOSED Labor Day, Monday, September 7
• August 31 - September 26: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Last day of the season: Sunday, September 27, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

A Top 10 Place To Get Ice Cream In Minnesota

Recently, I wrote about the 10 Best Places to Get Ice Cream in Minnesota, and two Duluth businesses made the list, Love Creamery and the Portland Malt Shoppe, and that's for good reason.

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Both places offer delicious treats, and the Portland Malt Shoppe's combination of thick, hand-mixed malts, classic flavors like mint chocolate chip pulled fresh into a waffle cone, and arguably the best lakeside view of any ice cream stand in the state is hard to beat.