Graeter’s Ice Cream getting ready to open up shop in South Hills

New location set to open in February

“Our ice cream is highly unique and our quality is second to none.”

Tim Philpott, vice president of marketing, Graeter’s

Graeter’s Ice Cream is expanding its Pittsburgh presence to the South Hills.

Cincinnati-based Graeter’s is set to open in Castle Shannon in February at 437 Mount Lebanon Blvd., which formerly housed a Wendy’s restaurant. The Castle Shannon shop will join Wexford as one of two Graeter’s locations in the Pittsburgh area.

Tim Philpott, vice president of marketing for Graeter’s, said since the company opened a store in Wexford in 2016, he has heard guests comment on how there should also be a shop near the South Hills.

“Not only does the new location give us an extended presence in the market, but it also has the right feel, and all of the ingredients, such as family orientation and a strong sense of community, to make our scoop shoppe successful,” Mr. Philpott said.

Graeter’s is known for making its ice cream using a French pot process in which all of the the ingredients are pasteurized, cooked and combined in a flavor vat and then frozen in two-and-a-half gallon French pot freezers — a method Graeter’s has been using since it started in 1870.

“Our ice cream is highly unique and our quality is second to none,” Mr. Philpott said.

He said Graeter’s works hard to become part of the community, to make its shops neighborhood destinations.

Mr. Philpott said he hopes to bring a feeling of community to Pittsburgh families.

“We hope to become an important part of the communities we serve — building meaningful partnerships with the schools, becoming a part of local events and celebrating families at every turn, from concerts to parades and community days to festivals,” Mr. Philpott said.

Although Castle Shannon will be the second location for Graeter’s in the Pittsburgh area, the ice cream has been available locally at Giant Eagle, Whole Foods and Fresh Market.

Graeter’s is expected to hire between 30 and 40 employees for the new shop, ranging from part-timers who work a day or two per week to team members who work 25-plus hours per week.

Graeter’s has about 50 stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.