In 2011, Michael Palmer and his wife, Eva Ein, acquired McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a Santa Barbara institution then facing potential bankruptcy. Palmer, a former marketing executive and winemaker, made the purchase with his partner after years of casually discussing the possibility while visiting Mission Street Ice Cream with his daughter.
The decision to invest in McConnell’s came after a personal setback for the couple. Their home was destroyed in the 2008 Tea Fire, and instead of rebuilding, they opted to redirect their resources into revitalizing the historic ice cream brand. Palmer recognized the deep connection Santa Barbara residents had with McConnell’s, stating his desire to “protect” something that “wants to be what it always was.”
McConnell’s, founded in 1949, was at a critical juncture. Palmer and Ein took ownership of not only the brand but too an old dairy, initiating a substantial undertaking to restore the business. The couple’s approach focused on maintaining the quality of the product while improving the company’s financial stability. This involved a significant “labor of love,” according to observers.
Palmer’s background includes experience as a brand builder and operator. He was born in San Francisco and maintains a fondness for the Bay Area, though expansion plans there are still under consideration. He currently serves as the CEO of McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, overseeing the brand’s evolution.
As of 2024, McConnell’s is celebrating its 75th anniversary, remaining under the ownership of the Palmer/Ein family – only the third family to ever own the company. The brand now includes a location called “The Dairy,” and continues to operate in Oxnard, California.
