MANSFIELD — Mansfield’s dessert menu just got sweeter.
A Whit’s Frozen Custard franchise is expected to open in late September or early October at 1531 Lexington Ave. (in the Johnny Appleseed Shopping Center), according to the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chuck Whitman.
The frozen custard is made fresh every day at the store. Each shop, located throughout central Ohio, is stocked daily with chocolate, vanilla and a flavor of the week. If a customer wants more options, they have more than 300 recipes they can turn into a Whit’ser, a treat comparable to a Dairy Queen Blizzard, Whitman said.
“Whit’s is a family-owned business from Ohio,” Whitman said. “Our recipes are sourced in Ohio too.”
Whitman said the frozen custard company was drawn to the Lexington Avenue location because there was a “limited number of frozen treats” in Mansfield.
“We also liked that it’s a smaller community,” he said. “We love being a part of communities.”
Many of the places that serve frozen treats are seasonal businesses in Mansfield. At least for its first year, Whit’s will be open in the winter.
“We usually leave it up to (the store). If it’s not worth while, they’ll probably close — be more or less seasonal. For the first year because we started so late, we will be open in the winter. After that, I don’t want to speak for them.”
Richland Area Chamber of Commerce president Jodie Perry said Whit’s coming to the community is a good sign for the local economy.
“When an outside company comes in, it’s a good sign,” she said. “They see good things in the economy and think they can do well. I think they are investing in a good area.”
Whit’s has locations throughout Ohio. According to its website, this will be the 25th store in Ohio, joining central Ohio spots in Granville, Mount Vernon, Heath, and multiple Columbus sites.
“I’m glad to see (this) store front filled,” Perry said. “It’s a good thing for the community.”
