March 29, 2024

New location planned for Jersey Freeze

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MONROE — After 14 years at its current location, Jersey Freeze has big changes coming for the 2015 season. Owners Lynn and Brad Donahue and Jill Munson are moving the ice cream shop across the road.

“I think it will be nice over there by Subway and Casey’s,” Munson said.

The new building, on the east side of Highway 14, will be a larger space and will feature a walk-in cooler, office, designated break room and bathroom access for customers. There will also be additional seating and a larger parking area.

“It will be kind of a different set up. It gets kind of clustered out front, so the windows will be on one side and the seating area with be on the other side,” Munson said.

There will also be an additional service window and an extra ice cream machine added for busy days.

“On Sundays and weekends here, it gets kind of crowded,” Munson said.

The menu will stay the same at the new location, but expansion isn’t out of the question.

“Maybe eventually we will do some different ice creams because will have more room, but not right now,” Munson said.

The seating arrangements will stay the same with outdoor setting. No indoor seating is planned for the new building.

“It’s going to be the same set up ... just more room,” Munson said.

Jersey Freeze will also continue their same March through October schedule. Sunday is the last day of the 2014 season for the existing shop.

Jersey Freeze was opened in 1992 by brothers Lynn and Brad Donahue of Monroe. The original shop was located north of the square on Highway 14 next to the former Pete’s Super Valu and employed about six to seven people during the summer months.

In 2000, the new building was opened south of Monroe on Highway 14, next to Malone Motorsports. With the marquee sign visible from Highway 163 and location next to the Casey’s travel stop, business has been increasing all of the time Lynn Donahue said. Both Jersey Freeze locations stayed open for two years before the downtown shop closed.

During its summer months, the current location now employs around 13 people, doubling what they started out with.

“Local towns are really great and supportive,” Munson said.

With ground broken on the new site and work currently in progress, the Donahues and Munson plan on being in the new location in time for its March 2015 opening.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.