Granville, Ohio — Population 5,719. A quaint New England-style village is home to one of the most spectacular frozen custard shops in North America. Customers pour out of the front door like a mother’s tears on her child’s wedding day every Monday through Sunday.
Whit’s Frozen Custard Made Fresh Daily, referred to as Whit’s by locals, is not your average ice cream store. Whit’s Frozen Custard is in its own class! According to Whit’s Frozen Custard official website, the frozen custard is served at 26 degrees (10 degrees warmer than ice cream) and has a thicker consistency than soft serve ice cream. Eating Whit’s frozen custard is an experience that is out of this world yummy.
The Whit’s Frozen Custard began from the efforts of Chuck Whitman and his wife, Lisa, who both share a passion for frozen custard. According to Whit’s Frozen Custard official website, Chuck spent 21 years working at a dairy manufacturing plant where he gained experience in the industry. Chuck perfected a frozen custard recipe after his time spent working at the plant. Lisa Whitman’s father owned multiple ice cream shops where she spent her childhood learning the tricks of the trade in the frozen treat world. Chuck and Lisa combined their love for frozen desserts, and hence came the birth of Whit’s in 2003. The Whitmans own the chain and lease the franchises to people who want to operate at Whit’s.
Whit’s in Granville, Ohio, is the original location, and due to its great success, there are now 20 other operating shops. Three more shops are opening soon in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Davidson, North Carolina and Marietta.
According to Whit’s official website, “Chuck and Lisa Whitman have taken the secrets they have learned over the years and perfected it into one store. This explains the long lines every evening on a warm summer night and why customers continue to come back for more — you can taste the quality and love in every scoop of Whit’s frozen custard.”
Whit's, located at 138 E Broadway, is one of the most popular shops in downtown Granville, Ohio. It is nestled at the bottom of the hill just below Denison University. Whit’s attracts locals and college students alike.
“Whit’s is by far my favorite spot to visit in Granville when I have a sweet tooth,” says Jenny Herold, a Denison student. “The long walk down the hill is so worth it. I adore seeing the local kids in the store with frozen custard in hand and large smiles plastered on their faces.”
Chocolate, vanilla and a featured frozen custard flavor of the week are handmade fresh daily at Whit’s. The workday begins at 6 a.m. as employees arrive to mix cream, eggs and sugar. It takes hours to make frozen custard.
The secret to the company’s success is the unique frozen custard options offered in the store. Three custard flavors may sound limiting for creating a delicious and unique frozen treat, but this is not the case at Whit’s. Customers decide how much or little they want to experiment with their frozen custard when they order.
For those who like their custard on the wild side, there’s Whit’s famous Whitser! A Whitser is a blended frozen custard treat that is completely customizable. The customer picks a desired frozen custard flavor, and then it is mixed with any desired number of toppings imaginable, ranging from fresh fruit to hard candies.
Whit’s’ popularity is not a product of luck. In Granville, Ann Love and her husband own the Whit’s Frozen Custard shop. Love bought Whit’s from Chuck and Lisa Whitman and moved it to the heart of downtown Granville where it has blossomed ever since.
Love is proud of the Whit’s’ success and the immense amount of joy that it brings to the community, she says. Customers can’t get enough of their frozen custard and even the convenient to-go gallon containers of frozen custard sell quickly.
“Coming to work is always fun because of the customer presence,” Love said. “A group of men from Granville, who call themselves the coffee crew, come to Whit’s three times a week at opening to purchase the pre-packaged to-go gallons of frozen custard for their families. The people who come to Whit’s are why I love my job so much.”
Whit’s is more than just a frozen custard shop. It is a symbol of community as the people from Granville gather at the store to enjoy frozen custard, conversation and laughter even in January when it is snowing and 23 degrees outside.
No matter the weather, sun or snow, a scoop of Whit's frozen custard is always the right choice.
