Press

The owners of an iconic Ojai business are passing the baton — or, more accurately, the scoop — to new owners.

Doug and Donna Rydbeck of Ventura, longtime owners of Ojai Ice Cream, are retiring and selling the business to Jonathan and Kodi Berg of Los Angeles and, soon-to-be, Ojai.

It’s a homecoming for Kodi. As a student at Nordhoff High School in the late ‘90s, she worked in the shop during her sophomore, junior and senior years. “I always blasted country music,” she said, “and I remember singing into the ice cream scoop.”

The Bergs were visiting the shop at 210 E. Ojai Ave. a few months ago when Doug told Kodi to get behind the counter and start scooping.

He said he and Donna were thinking of retiring soon, and she should take over the business. “He kind of said it in passing; in jest, but I don’t think he realized that I really liked this idea,” Kodi said.

When he suggested it again, Kodi came home and told Jonathan about the idea. “This could be kind of cool,” she said, “and, of course, it’s the dream of every kid.”

The Bergs have three children, ages 3, 12 and 16. Kodi had about a dozen kids around her when she announced the news. “Guess what we’re buying?” she said. “They were jumping up and down, screaming, ‘when can I start work?’”

“It’s all happened pretty quickly,” Kodi said. “As of May 1, we’re the official owners. My 16-year-old has already been in there, behind the counter.”

“They’re buying the store because they love the store and Ojai and downtown. They jumped at the opportunity. They’ll be exceptional, because they have the personalities for it,” said Doug Rydbeck. “Everything was very smooth, right down the line, and everybody’s happy.”

Ojai Ice Cream was founded in 1979 and was sold to new owners in the mid-’80s. The Rydbecks bought the business in 1992 after Doug, a printer by trade, saw a “for sale” ad in a Ventura newspaper.

“It’s a fantastic location for an ice cream store. It’s always been successful,” said Rydbeck, who called the shop near the west end of the Arcade “the sweet spot of Ojai.”

The Berg children recently came up with another catchy slogan, said Kodi: “Serving scoops and smiles since 1979.”

Roughly 75-80% of the store’s business is ice cream, according to Rydbeck, and the town has been good to him over the years. “Ojai is a pleasant town. We’re so lucky. It’s got about everything you could ask for in a compact little area. The Ojai Valley Inn provides a lot of tourists, and with all the festivals and activities, it’s just a continuous flow all the way through the year,” he said.

Kodi, who’s maiden name is “Kitchen,” went through school in Ojai, attending Monica Ros, Meiners Oaks, Matilija and Nordhoff. Her mom taught at Ojai Valley School.

A former model and soap actress, she founded her own company, EQUIPT, which manufacturers workout equipment.

Jonathan Berg is a Hollywood movie producer. His credits include “Wonder Woman," “Elf,” "Aquaman" and "Doctor Sleep."

For now, the couple plans to split their time between Los Angeles and Ojai, and eventually move to Ojai full-time.

In the meantime, Rydbeck plans to help out at the store this summer, maybe do some volunteer work and work on his golf game.

The Bergs asked Rydbeck about the one thing that’s most important to him in selling the business. Keep hiring the kids, he urged. “Ojai Ice Cream and Boccali’s were the two, especially, that always had the high school kids working there. And I definitely want to continue that,” said Kodi.

Rydbeck figures he’s hired some 250 high school students over the past three decades, many of them players on the Nordhoff Rangers football team. “It’s amazing what they’ve all accomplished. At least 99% of my employees have gone on to college,” he said.

The shop will continue to make its own ice cream and fudge, and along with shakes, floats and other sweet treats, may introduce new offerings like a flavor-of-the-month, such as “Topatopa Toffee” or an “Elf” flavor, Kodi said. “Keep a lot of what works and add a few little things, too.”

“We’ll be adding a grab-and-go featuring some special pints, and (store manager) Moriya Stringer’s homemade specialities,” Kodi told the Ojai Valley News in an email.

Meanwhile, Jonathan, an excellent cook, has been at the shop every Saturday morning, learning to make ice cream.

“What’s been great about being back in Ojai is that it is community,” said Kodi.

And with the help of family, friends and the community, the Bergs plan to keep Ojai Ice Cream’s small town character alive. “Keeping it something that is so true to Ojai,” she said.