The fastest growing ice cream franchise accelerates national growth with expansion into Illinois for the first time
Chicago, IL (Restaurant News Release) Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, the iconic dessert franchise famous for homemade ice cream, is expanding into Illinois for the first time with a multi-unit agreement in the Chicago-metropolitan-area.
The new Handel’s ice cream parlors will be developed in the Chicago suburbs of Elgin, Geneva/St. Charles and Algonquin, with the first location slated to open in late 2027. The new franchisee at the helm of this landmark entry into Illinois is Castro Rafeedie, an entrepreneur with significant experience in restaurant operations.
Rafeedie grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where Handel’s was founded in 1945. His passion for the brand, expertise in running successful restaurants, and his family’s strong franchising experience and deep ties to the Chicagoland area make him ideally suited to be the brand’s first franchisee in the Prairie State.
“Bringing our hometown brand to Illinois and being the first Handel’s franchisee in the state is such a special feeling,” Rafeedie said. “We looked at other concepts where everything was made in a central facility and shipped in, and that just didn’t appeal to us. Knowing that Handel’s still makes the ice cream on premise was a huge differentiator and really the moment where we knew this was something special. We believe in the brand, we trust the brand, and we genuinely love it as a family.”
After starting in the restaurant industry while in college, Rafeedie discovered a passion for building experiences through food and eventually went on to own a pizzeria in Dublin, Ohio, for nearly 12 years. Following the sale of the business, he began searching for his next venture and was drawn to Handel’s.
The expansion into Illinois continues a record-breaking era of development for the 81-year-old brand. In 2026, Handel’s has already signed 20 new franchise agreements in seven states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas. In fact, Chicagoland is the third new market for the brand since January 1st.
“We’re so excited to be expanding into Illinois with such an incredible operator,” said Jennifer Schuler, CEO of Handel’s Ice Cream. “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.”
In April 2026, Handel’s published their most recent franchise disclosure document, which again saw the brand’s Average Unit Volume increase to $1,115,650. With over 10+ years of average unit volume increases, a proven track record of scalability based on existing franchise owner expansion, and a strong runway for growth, Handel’s is poised to continue expansion into both the Chicagoland area, as well as across Illinois in the coming year.
“The amount of interest that we’re experiencing from strong multi-unit entrepreneurs in Illinois is very inspiring,” says Erin Snyder, VP of Franchise Development. “We might be the fastest growing ice cream franchise in the nation, but I also believe that we’re most selective. The quality of entrepreneurs who are reaching out to us now that we’re developing exemplifies our high standards. We’re looking forward to announcing more good news as the year continues.”
Learn more at HandelsIceCream.com.
About Handel’s Ice Cream
Founded in the summer of 1945, Handel’s began when Alice Handel started serving homemade ice cream from her husband’s gas station in Youngstown, Ohio, using fruit from her backyard and her personal recipes. Her handcrafted creations quickly became a neighborhood favorite, laying the foundation for what would become one of America’s most beloved ice cream brands.
Under the stewardship of Lenny Fisher, Handel’s grew from a single stand to a nationally celebrated franchise, earning generations of loyal fans through its steadfast commitment to quality, tradition and community. Now with over 170 locations and 150 flavors that rotate seasonally, the brand still stays true to Alice’s original vision, each batch of ice cream is still made fresh on-site.
Handel’s is consistently ranked in Franchise Times’ Top 400 list, recognizing the largest franchise systems in the United States, moving up from 320 to 272 in 2025. The brand is also often included in the publication’s “Fast & Serious,” a list of the smartest-growing franchises for the year, shifting from number 24 up to 19 in 2025. Handel’s was also ranked on Fast Casual’s Movers & Shakers 2025 list, while CEO Jennifer Schuler was named one of the top 25 industry executives, an honor recognizing exceptional leadership and innovation in foodservice. Handel’s is also regularly recognized as a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine.
To learn more about Handel’s franchise opportunities, visit HandelsIceCream.com/handels-franchise/.
Contact:
Betsy DeMik
Champion
972-930-9933
bdemik@championmgt.com