Jersey Freeze is bringing its soft serve south to the Bayshore, with plans to open a new location at 3091 Route 35 in Hazlet by spring 2027. The addition will mark the latest expansion for the 74-year-old ice cream institution, which has been steadily growing beyond its Freehold roots in recent years.
The Hazlet shop is expected to serve up the brand's signature soft serve, ice cream cakes and packaged treats, along with what the company calls its community-oriented spirit, according to New Jersey 101.5. “We're aiming to open in spring 2027, bringing our legendary soft serve, amazing ice cream cakes, packaged treats, and the community spirit that makes Jersey Freeze so special,” the company said, per the same outlet. The Bayshore has reportedly been one of the most requested areas for Jersey Freeze to expand into.
A Freehold Legacy Heads Down Route 35
Jersey Freeze traces its roots back to 1952, when it was founded by the Blackmore family in Freehold, according to the company's own history page. Current owners Katie and Matt bought the restaurant from Bruce Blackmore in 2014, and the brand's expansion beyond its flagship location didn't begin until 2020, when the pair opened a second shop inside Bell Works in Holmdel that March.
Growth has picked up steam since then. The owners partnered with Matthew Borowski to open a Colts Neck location in 2025, and the company's history page notes the trio planned to begin franchising in 2026. That franchising push has already produced results: Jersey Freeze opened its fourth location in Old Bridge on Aug. 20, 2026, at 1447 NJ-18, Suite 5, a milestone first reported by NJ.com.
More Shops On The Way, Including Shrewsbury
Hazlet isn't the only town on Jersey Freeze's expansion map. The company is also opening soon in Shrewsbury, with that franchise set to be run by three local Freehold men, Dave Meisner, Pat Cabello and Joe Miller, NJ.com reported in June. According to 95.9 The RAT, four corporate shops now exist in Freehold, Holmdel, Colts Neck and Old Bridge, while franchise stores are planned for Shrewsbury, Hazlet and even Naples, Florida.
The pace of openings has led to some shifting accounts of exactly how many locations Jersey Freeze has at any given moment. A June 2026 report from Red Bank Patch described open locations in Freehold, Colts Neck and Holmdel, with Shrewsbury expected to be the chain's fifth New Jersey shop, while later reporting from 95.9 The RAT counted four corporate locations once Old Bridge opened. Either way, the Hazlet shop would add yet another stop to a rapidly expanding regional footprint.
What's On The Menu
Longtime fans of Jersey Freeze know the draw goes beyond soft serve. The menu includes ice cream, ice cream cakes, ice cream cupcakes, milkshakes and sundae boats, according to NJ.com's earlier coverage of the chain's expansion. As Jersey Freeze looks ahead to Hazlet's spring 2027 debut, the company is also planning a 75th-anniversary celebration that same year, with a party set for its flagship Freehold location, per 95.9 The RAT.
