Warm summer-ish weather is already upon us, and The Short North will gain another place to cool down this June when Whit’s Frozen Custard opens at 841 North High Street in the Dakota Building. Launched in Granville, this Central Ohio business has quickly expanded with over a dozen locations stretching from Delaware to Athens and beyond.
We spoke with Chad Wells, proprietor of the new Short North location, to find out more about what this new dessert shop will offer to customers.
Q: First, can you tell us a bit about Whit’s for the uninitiated?
A: Whit’s Frozen Custard is a frozen confection that we actually make fresh every day in the store. We make four flavors every day. We always feature vanilla, chocolate, a weekly flavor that changes each Monday and finally a daily flavor. We offer junior, single and double scoops that can be served in a dish or on a cone, as well as our famous Whitser, where we take the custard you choose blend it together with assorted toppings. We also offer smoothies, shakes, malts, banana splits and root beer floats.
Q: What can you tell us a bit about the history of the business and your relationship with the business?
A: Whit’s Frozen Custard originated in Granville, where my family lives. in 2006 my dad, Terry Wells and his wife Samantha opened our First Whit’s Frozen custard in Zanesville. I was working in corporate relocation as a finance manager, and really wanted to get back to being my own boss. I had previously owned a business in the Short North. I approached my dad about learning about Whit’s, as a friend and I wanted to open our own store. After a couple of months we decided it made more sense to expand our family businesses of Whit’s. We had at that point a store also in Athens at Ohio University. So, in 2009 we started looking for a space for my store and ultimately opened in Upper Arlington.
Q: It looks like the new Short North store is the most central “urban” location to date?
A: Yes, this is definitely the most “urban” Whit’s location. Everyone that owns a Whit’s location still lives in Granville with the exception of myself and the Lebanon location. It’s still a very family-oriented local business.
Q: So what drew you back to wanting to own another business in The Short North?
A: I’m super excited about The Short North location, not only because that’s where I can usually be found if I’m not at the store, but because that has always felt like home to me since I moved to Columbus over 10 years ago. I’ve built many friendships from my previous business and can’t wait to be back down there. I live Downtown and this just makes me smile from ear to ear knowing that I’m coming home. I actually looked in The Short North area to open two years ago, but at the time there just wasn’t anything that was suitable for me. I continued looking and finally we found what we feel will be the perfect location. With everything that is going on across the street from the Dakota Building I couldn’t be more excited.
Q: Will the experience at this new store be similar to other locations, or will there be any unique offerings?
A: The experience at Whit’s Frozen Custard in The Short North will be pretty much the same as our other locations, with the exception of our added Daily Flavor. I tried this in Upper Arlington, and although it is a lot more work, it definitely brings people back. It’s exciting to see what the new flavor is there every day and it gives us the opportunity to let customers try a flavor that may not typically be featured. Plus, I get to play around and try new flavors. Two years ago I made a Pumpkin Roll custard in November. It was so popular that we decided to offer it in some of the other stores.
Q: Anything else we should know about the new location?
A: The hours at the Short North store will be 11am to 11pm, seven days a week and I will be open year round. I think this new location is going to help get the Whit’s experience to many new customers.
More information can be found online at WhitsCustard.com.