Frozen custard is about to bump rental cars off Babcock Boulevard. The Meadows Original Frozen Custard is slated to open in Ross Township this spring, taking over a former rental-car building across from The Block Northway. The project calls for a new facade and roof, upgraded parking, and a drive-thru window designed to keep the scoops flowing even in the dead of winter.
Where the shop will sit
According to Pittsburgh Business Times, the franchise will move into the former Avis rental-car building on Babcock Boulevard just off McKnight Road, directly across from The Block Northway. The report notes that the property will be reconfigured to add a drive-thru, refresh the exterior, and update the parking area to handle ice cream traffic instead of car rentals.
Announcement and plans
The move surfaced on social media via Herky Pollock, head of Legacy Realty Partners, as reported by Patch. “Renovations are set to begin soon,” he wrote. Patch reports that Pollock indicated work will include a new roof, parking upgrades, and the drive-thru feature that is intended to make the shop workable beyond the short North Hills summer.
About The Meadows
The Meadows Original Frozen Custard traces its roots to a 1950 stand in Duncansville and has since expanded into a multi-state franchise, according to The Meadows Original Frozen Custard. The company’s Monroeville location, shown on its The Meadows Original Frozen Custard site, offers the kind of year-round, drive-thru service envisioned for Ross, underscoring why the drive-thru is considered a key piece of the new buildout.
Why the North Hills spot matters
Babcock Boulevard at McKnight Road is one of the North Hills’ busiest retail stretches, with a constant stream of mall traffic and commuters. Landing directly across from The Block Northway, highlighted by AcrossPittsburgh.com, puts the custard stand in front of a built-in audience. That visibility, combined with the planned drive-thru, could help the franchise pull customers in all seasons instead of only during hot-weather ice cream runs.
Who’s behind the project
Developer and restaurateur Herky Pollock, president and CEO of Legacy Realty Partners and a co-owner of local chains like Burgatory and Shorty’s, has been linked to the site, according to Patch. Neither The Meadows nor Legacy Realty has put a specific opening date on the calendar in the initial announcements or coverage, Pittsburgh Business Times reports.
Renovations are expected to begin soon, so neighbors can look for construction equipment to roll onto the site along the corridor. Hoodline will keep an eye on the progress and share an update once the new Meadows location is ready to open its doors in Ross Township.
