Bruster's Ice Cream is a chain of ice cream parlors whose ice cream and frozen yogurt is made from a milk based mix at each individual store. Their primary operating region is in most states east of the Mississippi River. The chain is based in Western Pennsylvania. All of the ice cream is made fresh in the stores in order to avoid ice crystal formation. The recipe book that Bruster's users consists of over 170 recipes with lots of seasonal favorites.
Bruce Reed got his start with the ice cream business in the 1950s, when, as a kid, he helped out his parents at their diner, Jerry's Curb Service, in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, a small town located 27 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. It was then from his dad that Reed would learn the secrets to the restaurant business.
In 1989, Reed decided to open an ice-cream shop right next door to Jerry's, which he first operated under a franchise from Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt. However, after 15 months in the business, Reed dropped this Handel's franchise and began operating under the Bruster's name.
Bruster's also began franchising and has outlets in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. Bruster's remains headquartered in Bridgewater.
Some Bruster's locations also operate as franchisees of Nathan's Famous, Nathan's hot dogs and other Nathan's menu items, in addition to ice cream.