MilkShake Factory Brings Nostalgia & Flavor to Avon
In 1914, a family of immigrants from Greece settled in Pittsburgh and opened their first chocolate shop and soda foundation.
At the time, a milkshake was seen as a luxury. Few had home refrigeration, and a trip to the soda fountain was a special treat.
By the 1950s, new generations were joining the family business, and by the early ’70s, the family opened their first chocolate factory, putting a special touch on the product by making handmade truffles, caramels and other treats.
Generations continued to operate the chocolate shop, offering a variety of milkshakes along with it, and in 2003, The MilkShake Factory was coined and a franchise was born, using the family’s original ice cream and chocolate recipes.
This summer, the town of Avon became the 18th MilkShake Factory in the franchise and only the second in Indiana.
Alex Chandler owns the Avon location and says they started with a soft opening in late July with limited hours, giving their employees time to learn the ropes. However, there was nothing “soft” about it.
“We set a record for highest sales in the first week when we opened Avon. We have had such great exposure and such a great response,” Chandler says.
A trip to the Avon location might give guests a bit of nostalgia — or “newstalgia,” as Chandler likes to say. It’s a trip back to the soda fountain days with a modern twist.
They’re aiming to become a destination for families, just like the original store in Pittsburgh has been for decades.
“We want the community to have a phenomenal experience and our team is working hard and they’re proud of what they’re doing,” Chandler says. “We’ve even had customers get engaged at one of The MilkShake Factory locations in North Carolina. We want to be that place for the community.”
What sets them apart, according to Chandler, is the focus and effort made toward the milkshake.
“The milkshake, in general, is an iconic American dessert, but it’s often an afterthought at a lot of restaurants. We are purely focused on making a good milkshake,” Chandler says. “Our signature shakes, the Cookie Jar, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and Campfire S’Mores are probably the most popular.”
Gourmet selections include Bananas Foster, Caramel Toffee Cappuccino and Salted Caramel Pretzel. The Chocolate Cake Shake is delivered with a cake pop on top, and if you’re looking for the classic chocolate, vanilla or cookies and cream, they have those too.
In keeping with tradition, they’re still making chocolates in the back.
A new generation is learning the art of chocolate making, and customers can purchase homemade Chocolate Cake Pops, Pecan Caramel Terrapins or Roasted Almond Bark, to name a few. Even if you are a regular at The MilkShake Factory, stopping by often will reveal their newest flavors at the store.
“Every six weeks or so, we offer limited-time flavors and we’ll have seasonal shakes such as the pumpkin pie shake or peppermint brownie shake,” Chandler says. “We have seasonal products on our chocolate bar as well.”
Look for themed days, such as National Chocolate Milkshake Day in September, and regular promotional deals. You can even get a free shake on your birthday.
Chandler says The MilkShake Factory is also passionate about supporting their community, and he chose Avon for a special reason.
“A lot of people tell us how much they appreciate we chose Avon,” Chandler says. “We’re looking to put our brand in spots where families are thriving and Avon has been family-friendly since the beginning.”
He hopes the business can become an integral part of the community.
“We’re always eager to create partnerships,” Chandler says. “We’ve already hosted dine and donate nights, giving a percentage of the proceeds to schools or organizations. We’re always open for folks to reach out and we’re currently working on catering availability.”
Visit milkshakefactory.com for more information.
