The orange and strawberry freezes at The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze in Carmichael on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026.
HANNAH RUHOFF
hruhoff@sacbee.com
The fruit freeze has a long history in the Sacramento area. Now, one of the most popular purveyors of the frozen treats is expanding for the first time.
In 2003, Temme and Toy Hagen opened The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze at 2520 Walnut Ave. in Carmichael. Both of them had previously worked for the Merlino family, whose fruit freeze business, popular with generations of Sacramentans, shut down a handful of years earlier.
In the shop, which was an old Merlino’s location, the Hagen family kept the classic freeze recipes, including orange, which remains the most popular. However, the Hagens expanded their freeze repertoire over the decades, and now serve revolving, seasonal, and dairy flavors, from guava to mint chip. Outside, a large sign reads “Happiest Place in Carmichael.”
Temme Hagen, Toy Hagen and Daxton Hagen pose for a portrait at The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze in Carmichael on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The business has been run by the Hagen family since 2003. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Now, the business is expanding for the first time, with a new shop opening this week in Fair Oaks, approximately five miles from the Carmichael location. It is a larger space, with more indoor seating. “The old place was more conducive to driving in and picking up,” Temme Hagen said.
Like the older Hagen’s, it has been decorated in pops of orange. On one wall are framed cutouts from cardboard boxes that once contained oranges. Owner Hagen told The Sacramento Bee that he attributes much of his success to the fact that the family still makes their fruit freezes fresh nearly every day, with freshly-squeezed juices.
Cutouts from fruit boxes line the walls of The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze new location in Fair Oaks on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. Temme Hagen found the boxes at the original location, some of which date back to when the Merlino family owned the store. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com 
The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze new location in Fair Oaks on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The new location will open on Tuesday. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The space was formerly a Mexican restaurant, called Tacos by Tijuana. The Hagen family, who owns the building at 7405 Winding Way, decided to turn the restaurant into their second store after Tacos by Tijuana closed earlier this year. Like the Carmichael location, they will serve foods such as salads and burgers and fruit freeze desserts.
According to Daxton Hagen, one of Temme and Toy’s five sons, the second Hagen’s might serve breakfast sometime in the future, something the older location does not currently offer.
Temme Hagen told The Sacramento Bee that the Fair Oaks location will be helmed by his children. “We’ll let the boys take all the decisions with the new store,” he said.
The new store is nearly ready to open, as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday Aug. 18, Hagen said, if everything falls into place. Outside, a new sign is already hanging: “Happiest Place in Fair Oaks.”
Temme Hagen poses for a portrait at The Original Hagen’s Orange Freeze new location in Fair Oaks on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. The new location will open on Tuesday. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The Sacramento Bee
Anne Ewbank is a service journalist and food reporter for The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she worked as a writer and editor for the New York-based travel website Atlas Obscura, where she covered food and culture. A California native, she is a graduate of Occidental College and Yale University.