A sweet treat for Yorba Linda! A new Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt will open its doors in 2023.
Owned by Franchisee Jeff Manassero, this will be the first Handel’s for Yorba Linda residents, although there are several Handel’s across Orange County.
The ice cream franchise started in 1945 after Alice Handel started making ice cream for her neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio. The favorite treats were made from fruits in her backyard.
Since then, Handel’s has established its reputation as a chain that creates fresh ice cream everyday in all its stores.
This freshness separates Handel’s from other ice cream stores that make their ice cream in factories before transporting it to stores, Manassero said.
“Because it’s fresh, it’s just a different feel,” he said. “Even just use a basic flavor like your cookies and cream. We hand layer Oreo cookies in the cookies and cream type of flavor.”
This will cause the cookies to feel fresh and still have crunch, instead of tasting frozen, Manassero said.
As someone who grew up in Yorba Linda and still has roots in the city, opening a Handel’s is his way of contributing to the city’s growth.
“It’s grown a lot,” he said. “I think it’s doesn’t have as many places to eat as it probably could. I’ve always felt like people could use more stuff there.”
The new ice cream store will open next to Lone Wolf Brewery. It will offer grab and go options as well as hand packed ice cream in pints and quarts. Customers can also order the ice cream from the DoorDash app.
Handel’s offers 48 ice cream flavors everyday as well as sundaes and milkshakes. Its most popular flavor is the Graham central station which is made with Graham crackers and chocolate chunks.
“I think people will be excited. It’s really good ice cream,” Manassero said.
