New owner of St. George Frostop site says Larsen’s is dead, but here’s what’s coming in its wake

Written by Chris Reed
October 5, 2023

ST. GEORGE — After a brief lease on life, the Larsen’s Frostop on St. George Boulevard is officially history. But the manager of the new drink shop that will use the site said they will aim to keep a hint of Larsen’s legacy. 

The main neon sign in front of the former Larsen’s Frostop Drive-In, which is expected to remain with some modifications when it becomes Sip-N, St. George, Utah, Oct. 4, 2023 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Sip-N, a soda, drinks and snacks establishment with three locations in Northern Utah, is expected to open at the Larsen’s location in the next two months.

Wacey Jorgenson, general manager of Sip-N and Southern Utah native from Cedar City, said he has fond memories of taking trips down to “get away from the cold” and go to Larsen’s. He said what will rise from the ashes won’t be Larsen’s, but that doesn’t mean the new Sip-N location will ignore its legacy.

“I’m from Southern Utah, so I grew up going to Larsen’s so we want to make it look newer and nicer but want to be true to what it was and save what we can,” Jorgenson said. 

By Monday, almost all of the Larsen’s signage had been taken down from the building, save for the distinctive neon burger-carrying boy out front. The inside was gutted, with the tables lying in the parking lot alongside the former eatery’s tables. 

After being closed in late 2021, Larsen’s Frostop was resurrected under new management in May 2022. But that revival lasted a little over a year as Larsen’s closed its doors again in July – for good this time. 

Known for its shakes and Piccadilly chips for generations in St. George, Larsen’s was started as a Frostop root beer cafe franchise by Gale and Darlene Larsen, parents-in-law of current St. George City Councilmember Natalie Larsen. Where there were once 350 Frostops nationwide, there are now 12 and only one west of the Mississippi. 

The tombstone for Larsen’s – started by the parents-in-law of current St. George City Council member Natalie Larsen – reads from November 1965 to July 2023. 

But Jorgenson said the goal is for the neon boy above St. George Boulevard to live on.

“We’re looking to see a way to keep the classic boy up there, just with a cup up there instead of a burger,” Jorgensen said. “That’s our hope. I’m waiting to see what the designers come up with.”

Inside the gutted former Larsen’s Frostop, Oct. 24 2023 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

At the same time, Jorgensen said the old building is in need of work – work that was reportedly too much for the previous owners. 

“We’re shooting to open on Nov. 1,” Jorgensen said. “It depends how quick we can get renovations done.”

Sip-N was started in 2014 by Jill Stewart and Holly Davis in Payson and has since opened additional locations in Spanish Fork and Provo. 

When Sip-N opens its first Southern Utah location, expect drinks and sodas, cookies and treats similar to what people see at the other soda establishments that have been popping up like sunflowers around Southern Utah. 

Which begs the question, with so many soda shops – including competition from Swig, Thirst and Splash within blocks of its location on the boulevard – what is there to set the newcomer from the others?

Jorgensen cited two things: Grandma-recipe-style baked goods served hot and made on-site and some savoriness.

Signage taken down from the former Larsen’s Frostop sits in its parking lot, St. George, Utah, Oct. 4, 2023 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“What separated them in Payson and Spanish Fork is we offered home-baked recipes but also offered savory offerings like fries,” Jorgensen said. “Kind of like your grandma’s recipes like peanut butter bars and Oh Henry! bars.”

But while french fries will be on the menu, Piccadilly chips, ice cream treats, glaciers and burgers have been buried along with the rest of Larsen’s.

“We have to stick to our menu items,” Jorgensen said. “We’re not offering burgers. We’ll stick to drinks and treats.”

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGNews

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