Star-Studded Sequel at Ojai Ice Cream

One of the biggest compliments in the iconic Ventura County town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains is to be “of Ojai.” It was a phrase created by an Ojai councilperson many years ago and it perfectly describes the unique sense of community that Kodi Kitchen Berg and husband, Jonathan Berg, are creating as they renovate the Ojai Ice Cream shop.

There is probably nothing more “of Ojai” than the Ojai Ice Cream shop. After purchasing the 44-year-old institution from Doug and Donna Rydbeck in 2021, the Bergs immediately set about “elevating” the menu with handmade ice creams made by Trista Gladden—who, along with husband Will Gluck, is a partner at the shop.

Both Jon Berg and Will Gluck are movie producers. Berg has such credits as Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Dr. Sleep; Gluck’s producing credits include Peter Rabbit, Annie and Easy A, which was shot entirely in Ojai.

Kodi says her husband is enjoying the physicality of shop owning. “He loves to be part of something that just is there,” she says. For her part, the joy is in taking an old favorite and giving it a more modern iteration. “We’ve taken the old flavors and made them organic-based. We wanted the quality to match what it could be,” says Kodi, adding that the entire family made the decision to go all-in on Ojai Ice Cream.

The Berg family includes Teddy and Miles Gardenerberg, 18 and 15 respectively, and Lola Berg, 6. Kodi says her “bonus kids” Teddy and Miles enjoy scooping ice cream, continuing a family tradition. For Trista, whose nest is emptying, it’s time to create her own path going forward as children Lexi, 20, and Taryn, 18, Gluck grow up. “I have more time to pursue other interests now that my children are older,” she says.

There was a consensus among the partners to physically renovate Ojai Ice Cream to help alleviate the crowded, cramped feeling that was accentuated by crowds driven inside by the heat, as well as to update the look “to be a more welcoming space.”

“That’s why we did this renovation. We wanted to shrink the counter and move it back for more flow,” says Trista. The interior design was by Marcia Hinds and Bo Johnson (production designer and art director for Easy A). The enlarged aisle for customers is bordered by a light alder wood balustrade, which was suggested by Valley Woodwork, who built all the cabinetry.

They originally planned to paint the wood white. But Kodi and Trista both liked the natural light color of the alder wood so much that they decided to just apply clear coat, leaving the wood grain visible.

On the large wall facing the ice cream counter, there is a large mural of Ojai, from end to end, painted by Phil Toolin. The shop renovation was done by Element Landscape Construction.

Living in the middle of an agricultural cornucopia, Kodi thinks they’d be fools not to take advantage of their opportunities for flavorings. “We have Friend’s Ranch citrus and Heavenly Honey, which is next door,” she says.

Trista and Kodi say they draw inspiration for their flavors from foods they love. They laugh aside silly questions about butterfat content. “I use enough to make it taste good,” says Trista. “People who come here are looking for a little indulgence. We have some gluten-free and dairy-free and vegan options and we use organic ingredients when we can. I’m open to doing a lot of things. But I want to work on basic things first. One step at a time.”

The women keep using the word elevating to explain their process for re-creating the flavors already on the menu. Lavender, for example, can be a “polarizing flavor, like cilantro,” Kodi says. So for their Valley Lavender ice cream they steep the lavender overnight to tame the soapiness and to “have the taste be more natural and pure.” And Ojai Ice Cream only uses milk from the Straus Family Creamery in Petaluma, which immediately elevates the ice cream.

For Kodi, owning Ojai Ice Cream is a second homecoming. Her first was as a homecoming princess at Nordhoff High School, back when she was student there.

“We would go out downtown every Friday night to the [Ojai] Playhouse and then go to Ojai Ice Cream,” says Kodi, who eventually scooped ice cream there as a high school student. She started modeling at 15 and was eventually cast in the TV soap opera “General Hospital.”

“On my first day, I had 27 pages of dialogue to read. There’s no teleprompter and only one take,” says Kodi, adding that she is always open to adventure. “It was fun. I’ve always been a yes gal. I will jump at any opportunity.”

In addition to offering ice cream at the Ojai Arcade shop, Ojai Ice Cream will be offered on Island Packers boats. Her “bonus” dad, aka stepfather, Mark Connally, who heads up the family-run business offering tours of the Channel Islands along with a healthy helping of marine biology, has agreed to bring the ice cream onboard to sell to whale-watching customers.

Ojai Ice Cream also has an ice cream cart (used outside during renovations) for festivals and catering. Ice cream packs with Ojai Ice Cream branded coolers are now available for parties or picnic by advance order.