ASHLAND – A Lexington woman is bringing a sweet treat to Ashland next month.
Melissa Young is opening a franchise location of Whit’s Frozen Custard at 1220 Claremont Ave. The site was the former PNC Bank branch location at the corner of Claremont Avenue and Smith Road.
Young is renting the building and renovating it with new flooring, a kitchen and a new restroom. She’s keeping the drive-through window to allow customers to order custard to-go. She plans to open the store in mid-April.
Young’s husband is an entrepreneur who has had several businesses and currently runs a used car lot in Mansfield, but this project is Young’s first business of her own.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for the last seven years, and the kids are grown now and out,” Young said. “I wanted to go back to work, but I kind of wanted to be my own boss. We discovered Whit’s about five years ago, and we absolutely love the product, so we thought, ‘Let’s give it a try.'”
Young said she has always felt drawn to Ashland, in part because of the university, and she is excited to be part of the growth she is seeing in the Ashland community.
Whit’s started in Granville in 2003 and now has over two dozen locations in Ohio as well as several in other states.
A Mansfield location opened on Lexington Avenue in 2017, and Whit’s Frozen Custard is also available at Hanover House Diner in Loudonville.
The three main ingredients in frozen custard, Young said, are eggs, cream and sugar.
Frozen custard has a thicker, creamier texture than ice cream because it has a higher butterfat content, has less air mixed in and is served about 10 degrees warmer than a typical ice cream.
“What’s so special about ours is it’s made fresh daily,” Young said. “So when you come in and order something, it’s going to be fresh.”
In addition to custard (chocolate, vanilla and special flavors of the week), the shop will offer frozen custard cakes and cookie sandwiches, chocolate-dipped waffle cones and novelties like chocolate-dipped bananas.
Pints will be available to-go, and there will also be a lineup of food items including hot dogs, coneys, and shredded chicken and pork sandwiches.
The Ashland Whit’s location will be open seven days a week year-round and will employ about 15 people part-time, Young said. Whit’s also has a trailer to bring its custard on the road.
For updates, visit www.facebook.com/ashlandwhits/.
