Whit's Frozen Custard Opening Early Fall in Fort Lauderdale
Frozen custard, ice cream sandwiches, and Chicago-style hot dogs will highlight the menu.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Whit’s Frozen Custard is planning a new location at 4336 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, with franchisee John Khoury targeting an early fall opening as permitting moves forward.
Khoury told Business Debut he is aiming for a September or October timeframe for the Fort Lauderdale shop, which will be his second Whit’s location.
What to Expect
Whit’s Frozen Custard is a franchise that began in Ohio in 2003 and now has more than 100 stores, including about 25 in Florida, Khoury told Business Debut. The Fort Lauderdale shop will be a little smaller than his existing Lighthouse Point location at just over 1,000 square feet, but it will offer the same fresh-made custard, grab-and-go products, cakes, quarts, pints and Whitties, the brand’s cookie ice cream sandwiches.
Khoury also said the new location will include a menu item not typically found at Whit’s stores in Florida: Vienna beef Chicago-style hot dogs. They will serve Chicago dogs, chili dogs and kraut dogs from day one, along with chips and a soda.
Menu and Vision
Khoury said the product is what sold him on the brand. “It’s just very high quality frozen custard,” he told Business Debut. He said Whit’s makes custard fresh every day and rotates flavors through a monthly calendar, with vanilla and chocolate always available alongside featured flavors and vegan options.
Among his favorites, Khoury pointed to the Bavarian Cheesecake Custard and mint-based flavors. He also said he wants the new shop to be “an ice cream or frozen dessert epicenter,” with a strong emphasis on quality and community.
This will be Khoury’s second Whit’s location following his store in Lighthouse Point. Khoury told Business Debut he has spent more than 40 years in the food business, including 42 years in industrial baking, and previously owned an Italian ice and frozen custard business in Kansas City from 1996 to 2018.
He most recently served as president of Casano’s Baking Company in Coconut Creek before stepping away from that side of the industry and opening Whit’s.
He said the Fort Lauderdale space is being fully rebuilt and will carry some of the same design elements as Lighthouse Point, including a red marble countertop and white subway tile.
Hours
Khoury said the new location is expected to be open seven days a week, likely 11 a.m.—10 p.m. daily and 12 p.m.—10 p.m. on Sundays. He told Business Debut the hot dog menu will run until 7 p.m. each day.
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Ross McWaters
