Popular ice cream brand, which first opened in Ohio in 1945, has expanded throughout the country, and there is a grand opening scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17 for Washington’s first location in east Vancouver

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

There are those who have a passion for ice cream.

Andrea Huerta and her partners are among those people.

This week, they are starting to share that passion with Vancouver and Southwest Washington.

“We make our ice cream fresh, on site, every day,” Huerta said Thursday evening on what was a soft opening for the first Handel’s Ice Cream shop in the state.

The official grand opening of Handel’s, which has been making homemade ice cream since 1945, is Saturday in east Vancouver. The address: 530 SE 192nd Avenue, off of Mill Plain Boulevard.

“There is cake batter in our cake batter ice cream. There are bananas in our banana ice cream,” Huerta said. “We try to honor the legacy of craftsmanship and true dedication to ice cream.”

At Handel’s, they even teach their employees a different way to scoop ice cream, to eliminate ice crystals from forming.

They have tried to think of everything.

“We really do care deeply for our ice cream,” Huerta said. 

“We really do want to partner with Clark County and the Vancouver area to make a really great ice cream spot,” she said.

Folks should expect a large gathering on Saturday, Jan. 17 for the grand opening. The first 100 customers will get free ice cream for a year. There are rumors online that some might line up much earlier than the noon opening.

According to a press release, four longtime friends will lead the new location for Handel’s. Andrea Huerta, Ian Donovan, Heather Portus, and David Portus bring experience in hospitality, real estate, and franchise operations to the community.

“Andrea and her family have been making memories at Handel’s for over a decade,” Donovan said. “When Heather and David were introduced to the brand during a family vacation, it felt like a perfect match. We wanted to combine a brand we all loved with the chance to build something meaningful together in our own community. We see this location as a neighborhood destination where families and friends can gather and celebrate.”

The shop opens daily from noon to 9 p.m., with extended hours expected during the warmer months. 

There are classic and seasonal favorites. There are 48 rotating flavors each month. 

The owners are also committed to making a positive impact on the community. They plan to support local schools and organizations through fundraising opportunities. Handel’s also wants to be a trusted employer for local youth.

“We are especially proud of the opportunity to provide first jobs for young people in Vancouver,” Heather Portus said. “We hope our store is a positive workplace that helps young employees build confidence they can carry throughout their careers.”

Handel’s Ice Cream was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1945 as a single ice cream parlor. It now has more than 160 locations nationwide, and Vancouver’s shop is the first in Washington.

The Vancouver operation is for pick-up and delivery only. There are potential plans to have outdoor seating in the summer months.