Bruster's Real Ice Cream in New Stanton will stay closed for at least a few days after someone broke a window and crawled inside the shop late Saturday night, dragging shards of glass through the business as they went. Owner Angelo Poulich says surveillance video captured the moment around 11 p.m. when the intruder shattered the window and climbed through, scattering glass throughout the store and forcing him to shut down while he cleans up and figures out what was lost.
Because Bruster's locations prepare their ice cream fresh on site each day using a proprietary milk-based mix, broken glass scattered through the kitchen and sales floor isn't just a mess — it's a full loss of inventory. The chain, founded in 1989 and now operating roughly 220 franchise locations across 22 states, relies on small daily batches to keep products fresh, a process outlined in Hoodline's earlier coverage of the company's business model. That means the New Stanton shop likely has to discard everything made before the break-in and deep-clean the space before reopening.
Neighboring Barbecue Business Also Hit
The damage wasn't limited to the ice cream shop. Poulich also operates Poulich Pit BBQ at the same 604 South Center Avenue property, and the same intruder damaged outdoor smokers belonging to the barbecue operation.
Poulich said security alerted him to the break-in, and state police responded to the scene, but the culprit fled before troopers arrived.
Potential Charges Carry Years in Prison
If identified and caught, the suspect could face serious consequences under Pennsylvania law. A burglary of a commercial building can be graded as a second-degree felony under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502 only if the structure is not adapted for overnight accommodations and no one is present, carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, according to The Dorward Law Firm.
The RIDC Westmoreland campus sits just off the New Stanton Turnpike interchange. The area has seen recent growth, including contract brewer City Brewing expanding its footprint at the nearby RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center, as Hoodline reported in March.
