HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is returning to Huntsville under new ownership.
Former Army Lt. Colonel Brian Vaughn and his wife, Carolyn, plan to start helping customers find their favorite flavors the week of Feb. 8. The business is located at 7086 Hwy 72, at the corner of Jeff Rd. and Hwy. 72 in front of Kroger.
At Handel's corporate headquarters in Ohio, they believe they've found an "all-star" team in the Vaughns. Jim Brown, Handel’s Chief Operating Officer, says, "We were humbled to have over 100 people that wanted to be the new store owner in Huntsville, and we couldn’t be more excited about partnering with Brian and Carolyn Vaughn. Brian resonated with the story of Handel’s founder, Alice Handel, and we see the same traits in the Vaughns: good-natured, hard-working people."
Vaughn believes that his military training prepared him well for the pivot from Army to Dairy. He explained, “The discipline and attention to detail from my Army training will help us consistently serve this great-tasting, top-quality ice cream to our neighbors and new friends."
The Huntsville Handel's location closed in June of 2020 after racially-charged social media posts by the shop's owner came to light. Handel's corporate office unequivocally condemned the statements and formally severed ties with that owner. The store, the only one in Alabama, has been shuttered since then.
Handel's has been in business for 75 years and ice cream is still made fresh daily in every location. They offer traditional scoops and sundaes as well as multi-flavor samplers and treats like ice cream pops and ice cream cookie sandwiches.
