Friends launch ice cream dream
Long-time friends Danylik and Ildiko Hanson have started their own ice cream shop together in Redondo Beach. Photo
Danylik and Ildiko Hanson have known each other for nearly 30 years. Five years ago, they came up with the idea of starting their own ice cream shop.
But they wanted to wait until their boys got older. Hanson is the mother of three boys, Danylik has two. Now their sons are old enough to help themselves, and even old enough to help out in their moms` business.
They opened Handel`s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt in the gloomy month of June.
“It has not been as bad as we thought. A sunny day is always better than a gloomy day, but we have done quite well,” says ice cream seller Paul Duffy, who works at the shop.
Danylik and Hanson actually don`t fear bad weather. They had an estimated 3,000 customers on opening day.
“In Ohio people line up to get Handel`s Ice Cream even if it is snowing,” says Hanson.
The first Handel`s Ice Cream opened in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945. The brand has won numerous awards. Danylik and Hanson note that is has been ranked in National Geographic`s 10 Best of Everything traveling guide.
They picked the brand after having it recommended by a mutual friend.
“She had us drive to Upland,” Hanson said. “We tried it, and it was great. Handel’s is a well known brand out there.”
The ice cream shop in Redondo Beach has 25 employees. Most are students. Out of 100 flavors, 47 are made fresh every day.
Hanson lives in Palos Verdes and Danylik lives in Manhattan Beach. They searched for a long time to find the right place to open their store.
“It took us one year to find this location,” says Danylik. “The people in Redondo Beach have been great to us.”
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt is located at 1882 South Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach. (424) 247-8861.