Handel’s Ice Cream opens new Magnolia shop with drive-thru

Handel’s Ice Cream is expanding in Greater Houston with a new Magnolia location opening Aug. 13 at 4130 Farm to Market Road 1488. The shop will give the first 100 guests in line free ice cream for a year and becomes Texas’ first Handel’s with a drive-thru.

Why it matters: - Handel’s Ice Cream is adding another foothold in Texas as it continues to grow its Greater Houston presence. - The Magnolia shop brings a drive-thru format to Texas for the first time, which could make the brand more accessible to drive-up traffic and families in the area. - The opening gives local customers a new option for pickup, delivery and catering from a national ice cream chain with a long operating history.

What happened: - Handel’s Ice Cream is opening a new shop in Magnolia, Texas, at 4130 Farm to Market Road 1488. - The grand opening is set for Thursday, Aug. 13. - The first 100 guests in line will receive free ice cream for a year. - Garrett and Marlene Francis own and operate the new location.

The details: - The Magnolia shop is a 2,400-square-foot scoop shop. - The location is Texas’ first Handel’s Ice Cream store with a drive-thru. - The shop will offer 48 rotating flavors. - Customers will be able to use catering services and order through DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates. - The store will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Garrett Francis said the couple first experienced Handel’s in 2009 and view the Magnolia opening as a natural next step for their family. - Marlene Francis said Magnolia’s small-town character and family-oriented feel made the community a strong fit for the brand.

Between the lines: - The Magnolia opening extends Handel’s growth strategy in the Houston region, where population growth has created room for more food and dessert concepts. - The drive-thru format suggests Handel’s is testing a convenience model that could matter in Texas markets with heavy car traffic. - The family ownership angle and community-first messaging are aimed at building local loyalty, not just driving opening-day traffic. - Handel’s traces its roots to Youngstown, Ohio, and says it has been making and selling ice cream since 1945. - The brand says it now has more than 175 locations across 20 states.

What's next: - Handel’s will begin serving Magnolia customers after the Aug. 13 grand opening. - The company is steering interested customers to its Magnolia store page and social channels for updates. - Handel’s franchise growth appears set to continue as the brand adds more locations nationwide.

The bottom line: - Handel’s is using Magnolia to deepen its Texas footprint with a first-in-state drive-thru shop, a new local ownership team and a grand-opening giveaway designed to build immediate buzz. - More information is available at the Magnolia store page and on Handel’s Magnolia social accounts.