Chocolate or rainbow rod-shaped
candy on ice
cream.
Jimmies were first developed by Just Born
Candy Company, which was founded by Samuel Born, who immigrated to the US from Russia around 1910. Born opened a small
candy-making and retail store in Brooklyn, N.
Y., in 1923. Soon after opening the Brooklyn store, Born invited his brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, to join him in the business. With his capable partners handling the factory and growing sales, Born was
free to direct his energies to his many
candy-related inventions.
In 1930 James Bartholomew was lucky enough to acquire a job at Just Born, Inc. Bartholomew operated a machine that produced Born's latest invention, tiny hot-dog shaped chocolate sprinkly things. But what to call them? Born briefly pondered that question before deciding to accredit the
name to the producer, Jimmy Bartholomew. The new product was named JIMMIES, which is still a trademarked
name, but no longer made by Just Born.The dictionary definition for JIMMIES used to be "decorative things." They have also been called toppettes, shots, fancies, trimettes and sprinkles.
When they came to Boston, (circa 1947) Brigham's was the first to promote JIMMIES and did not charge for them. In Boston, JIMMIES are to ice
cream like mustard & relish are to a hot dog. Brigham's has continued the long tradition of serving JIMMIES free of charge on ice
cream cones and dishes.
