Popular homemade ice cream chain Handel’s is expanding to Illinois, opening several locations in the Chicago metro area as part of a multi-unit deal, according to Restaurant News.
The Chicagoland move is part of a nationwide expansion, including 20 new franchise agreements in seven states in 2026.
Here’s what we know about the Illinois openings.
What is Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream?
Founded in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945, the homemade ice cream brand is known for making each quality batch by hand on the premises.
Handel’s boasts its collection of 100 flavors, with locations rotating 48 each month, according to its website.
The brand’s ice cream has been declared among the best in the country by National Geographic, Newsweek, Easy Reader and more.
Where is Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream opening locations in Illinois?
Restaurant News reported that the ice cream chain is opening locations in the Chicago suburbs of Elgin, Geneva/St. Charles and Algonquin.
Franchisee Castro Rafeedie will be leading the Illinois expansion, citing his extensive experience in restaurant operations and his family’s deep ties to the Chicagoland area.
“We’re so excited to be expanding into Illinois with such an incredible operator,” Handel’s CEO Jennifer Schuler said of Rafeedie. “As our brand continues to rapidly grow across the nation, partnering with franchise owners like Castro, who have the deep restaurant background, the deep roots in the community, and the drive to grow, is exactly what is going to make Handel’s a mainstay in the Chicagoland area for years to come.”
When is Handel’s opening in Illinois?
The first Illinois location is slated to open in late 2027, according to the outlet.
The Peoria Journal Star reached out to Handel’s about the Illinois openings and will update this story if more details are provided.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Homemade ice cream chain to open first Illinois locations. Here’s where
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Hannah Hudnall, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
