A national frozen custard chain has made its Sarasota debut within walking distance of world-famous Siesta Beach.
Whit’s Frozen Custard recently opened at 5147 Ocean Blvd. in bustling Siesta Village, about a one-minute walk from landmarks such as the Beach Club.
The shop specializes in custard with custom toppings and mix-ins ranging from fruits and nuts to candy bars and whipped cream.
It will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Owners Larry and Julie Fineberg moved to Florida from Buffalo in 2004. Their three sons, Matthew, Drew and Jason, will operate the shop day to day.
The family said in a press release they grew up enjoying frozen custard and began looking for an opportunity to bring it to the Sarasota area. They eventually discovered Whit’s and decided to open a franchise.
“We all grew up in Buffalo with custard, and when we came back together as a family, we realized there was something missing here,” Jason Fineberg said in a prepared statement. “We wanted to find a business we could build together, and when we discovered Whit’s, it felt like the right opportunity to bring something we all loved to our community.”
All three Fineberg sons attended college in the Northeast before returning to the Sarasota area to build their careers and raise their families.
The three brothers bring complementary experience in finance, legal affairs, marketing strategy and business operations.
What’s special about the location of Whit’s Frozen Custard?
The shop is in the heart of Siesta Village, a short walk from Siesta Beach, which has earned numerous national accolades. U.S. News & World Report ranked it the No. 1 beach in the country in its 2026 Best Beaches rankings, while Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, named it the top U.S. beach in 2011 and 2017.
Whit’s features beach-inspired décor, a large mural, indoor seating and an outdoor patio. The shop also features a Whit’s-themed photo booth.
“We wanted this to be more than a place where you stop for dessert,” said Fineberg. “We want it to feel like part of the Village — a place where families can relax after the beach, friends can meet up and visitors can make another great Siesta Key memory.”
What’s on the menu at Whit’s Frozen Custard?
Whit’s Frozen Custard is known for its rich, creamy custard made fresh throughout the day, along with more than 300 rotating flavors, sundaes, shakes and its signature Whitsers — custom frozen custard creations blended with guests’ favorite toppings and mix-ins.
The menu also features Whitties, frozen custard cookie sandwiches.
Where and when did Whit’s Frozen Custard originate?
Whit’s Frozen Custard was founded in 2003 in Granville, Ohio, with a goal of serving handcrafted frozen custard made fresh daily.
The chain has nearly 100 locations in 11 states, including 23 in Florida — with another six Florida locations marked on the website as “coming soon.”
The Siesta Key store is the first one in Southwest Florida.
For more information, follow @whitssiestakey on Instagram.
Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: National frozen custard chain makes Sarasota debut near Siesta Beach
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
