Hillsboro is about to get a whole lot sweeter. Handel's Ice Cream, the 80-year-old scoop shop once crowned the world's best, is opening a new walk-up parlor at 3307 Southeast Reed Drive this month. A ribbon-cutting is set for 11 a.m. on April 17, with the full grand opening following on April 18. Once the doors are officially open, the shop is expected to scoop every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Hillsboro's new scoop shop
The Hillsboro outpost is listed as "Opening Soon" on the official store page from Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, which also teases a rotating lineup of flavors. The chain says the new shop will serve its signature menu, with additional flavors changing regularly to keep locals on their toes.
Opening weekend offers
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Handel's is not being shy about opening-week deals. The first 100 customers through the line will score free ice cream for a year, and the shop will host a prize drawing that is limited to winners who are 18 or older. There is also a buy-one-get-one-free special running through 5 p.m. on April 17. In a release cited by the paper, company representative Tim Joyce called the Hillsboro debut "another exciting chapter in our journey with the brand."
A fast-growing chain with local flavor
Handel's started in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945 and has been on a steady growth streak ever since. Nation's Restaurant News reports that the company now operates more than 170 locations across 18 states. The store directory from Handel's lists current Oregon shops in Portland, Sherwood, Eugene and Bend, which makes Hillsboro the chain's fifth location in the state.
Where it fits in Hillsboro
The Hillsboro Area Chamber of Commerce already counts Handel's among its new members for 2026, signaling that the chain is officially joining the local business scene. Anyone heading to the ribbon-cutting or grand opening should be ready for serious lines during the giveaways, so plan to show up early if you are aiming for those year-long free scoops.
