Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is celebrating its Pittsburgh roots with the opening of a new state-of-the-art store in Bridgewater, Beaver County. The new store officially opened its ‘windows’ to the public last week, and business has been booming, according to the company’s CEO. While the company is looking forward to this next chapter and the future, they know it’s important to honor the past and the history of the brand as well. “It’s just been a real blessing, and it all started right here,” said Jim Sahene, CEO of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream. In 1989, a man named Bruce Reed opened an ice cream shop next to his father’s drive-in carhop on Riverside Drive in Bridgewater, Beaver County. His father’s restaurant, Jerry’s Curb Service, specialized in drive-in dinner options. The younger Reed thought people needed a place to go for dessert after having dinner. His idea turned into a cash cow, and the rest is history.”When you think about Bridgewater and what it means to this brand, 36 years ago, one store started, and now today we have almost 300 stores either open or under construction in development,” Sahene said. “It’s amazing.” After all those years, the original shop was due for some upgrades. Instead of refurbishing that store, the decision was made to start from scratch. The new state-of-the-art shop now sits on the other side of Jerry’s and just a few hundred feet away from the original location.”It’s our roots. Most of us live right here in Pittsburgh, born and raised in Pittsburgh, and we are a very proud Pittsburgh-based brand,” Sahene said.The store’s modern design includes a new layout and digital upgrades, including digital menu boards. While some things look different, the service and the product are still the same.Sahene says they pride themselves on their ‘Cow to Cone’ method, focusing on freshness. Bruster’s owns a dairy in Pennsylvania, which produces the mix and delivers it fresh from the dairy to each store. Each individual shop then makes small batches of the flavors each morning, right in the store where they are served!They also take pride in the tradition that comes with each trip to their location. “We’ve been around for a lot of special moments for a lot of people,” Sahene said. “We touched a lot of customers’ lives, we touched a lot of franchisee lives, we’ve touched a lot of employees’ lives. We’ve mentored hundreds and hundreds of young people who have worked at our locations across the country. That is the best part.”
BRIDGEWATER, Pa. —
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is celebrating its Pittsburgh roots with the opening of a new state-of-the-art store in Bridgewater, Beaver County.
The new store officially opened its ‘windows’ to the public last week, and business has been booming, according to the company’s CEO. While the company is looking forward to this next chapter and the future, they know it’s important to honor the past and the history of the brand as well.
“It’s just been a real blessing, and it all started right here,” said Jim Sahene, CEO of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.
In 1989, a man named Bruce Reed opened an ice cream shop next to his father’s drive-in carhop on Riverside Drive in Bridgewater, Beaver County.
His father’s restaurant, Jerry’s Curb Service, specialized in drive-in dinner options. The younger Reed thought people needed a place to go for dessert after having dinner. His idea turned into a cash cow, and the rest is history.
“When you think about Bridgewater and what it means to this brand, 36 years ago, one store started, and now today we have almost 300 stores either open or under construction in development,” Sahene said. “It’s amazing.”
After all those years, the original shop was due for some upgrades. Instead of refurbishing that store, the decision was made to start from scratch. The new state-of-the-art shop now sits on the other side of Jerry’s and just a few hundred feet away from the original location.
“It’s our roots. Most of us live right here in Pittsburgh, born and raised in Pittsburgh, and we are a very proud Pittsburgh-based brand,” Sahene said.
The store’s modern design includes a new layout and digital upgrades, including digital menu boards. While some things look different, the service and the product are still the same.
Sahene says they pride themselves on their ‘Cow to Cone’ method, focusing on freshness. Bruster’s owns a dairy in Pennsylvania, which produces the mix and delivers it fresh from the dairy to each store. Each individual shop then makes small batches of the flavors each morning, right in the store where they are served!
They also take pride in the tradition that comes with each trip to their location.
“We’ve been around for a lot of special moments for a lot of people,” Sahene said.
“We touched a lot of customers’ lives, we touched a lot of franchisee lives, we’ve touched a lot of employees’ lives. We’ve mentored hundreds and hundreds of young people who have worked at our locations across the country. That is the best part.”
Dining and Cooking