Free ice cream for a year? Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream celebrates Reno opening with offer

Folks who scream for ice cream will get one new option in Reno.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream will open its first location in the Biggest Little City on Thursday at the Shayden Summit mall — also known as the Summit Reno mall — in south Reno. The store will be located right next to Mount Rose Wine Co.

Founded in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is known for offering more than 45 ice cream flavors, including limited ones it rotates every month. Cristina Ferguson, one of the franchisees who owns the Reno location, credited one of those flavors for the decision to bring Handel’s to the area. Ferguson became a Handel’s fan during frequent visits to her brother in Texas.

“I fell in love with the Banana Cream Pie flavor,” Ferguson said. “I kept thinking, ‘How can I bring this to Reno?’”

Come Thursday, Ferguson and partners Andy and Susie Nava will be bringing not just Handel’s Banana Cream Pie ice cream but a slew of other flavors such as Blue Monster, Buckeye, Coconut Caramel Delight and Graham Central Station to Reno.

In total, 48 ice cream flavors will be available daily with additional flavors also rotated seasonally for a selection of more than 100 flavors. To celebrate the opening, the first 100 customers will also receive free ice cream for a year.

Seriously.

The free ice cream is equivalent to one cone or cup per week for 52 weeks, a Handel’s spokesperson confirmed with the Reno Gazette Journal.

The Reno location joins more than 140 Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream stores in 14 states. The owners plan to operate the business as a family-run store and while being involved with the local community.

“We love Reno and believe the community will fall in love with Handel’s just as we have,” Ferguson said.

“We are excited to bring this heritage brand to the area and to support and partner with local schools, teams and organizations.”

If you go: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream officially opens at 11 a.m. Aug. 29 at 13987 South Virginia St. inside the Shayden Summit mall in south Reno.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Free ice cream for a year? Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream celebrates Reno opening with offer