Handel’s Ice Cream set to open Cerritos shop Oct. 1

Handel’s Ice Cream will open a new 1,640-square-foot shop in Cerritos on Oct. 1, bringing 48 rotating flavors, delivery, catering and a grand-opening giveaway to South Street. The location expands the brand’s Southern California footprint as its operators look to build ties with nearby schools, churches and local business groups.

Why it matters: - Handel’s Ice Cream is adding another Southern California location in Cerritos, extending a brand that has sold fresh, homemade ice cream since 1945. - The new shop adds another food-and-entertainment stop on South Street, a corridor already lined with eateries and shops. - The opening gives local customers access to delivery, catering and a daily rotating flavor menu made fresh in-store.

What happened: - Handel’s Ice Cream will open its Cerritos shop on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon. - The store is at South Street in Cerritos and spans 1,640 square feet. - The grand opening will include free cone cards for guests who follow the shop’s Instagram account, @handels562, while supplies last. - Live entertainment is planned for the celebration.

The details: - The Cerritos location includes a shaded queuing area and a new patio with benches, picnic tables and planters. - The shop is owned and operated by Greg Flaherty, Charlie Arviso and Ashley Kawasaki. - Flaherty and Arviso first worked together at the Los Angeles Clippers in 1997. - Flaherty opened the Long Beach Handel’s in 2020. - Arviso later joined the team to open the Downey location in 2022. - Kawasaki has overseen Long Beach operations since it opened and will manage day-to-day operations in Cerritos. - The Cerritos shop will serve 48 rotating flavors made fresh in-store daily. - Customers can order pickup and delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats and GrubHub. - The store will also offer catering. - Daily hours will run from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - More information is available on the Cerritos store page or on Instagram at @handels562.

Between the lines: - The ownership team is leaning on a proven local playbook, using the same group that built Handel’s locations in Long Beach and Downey. - Kawasaki’s quote frames South Street as a destination with enough activity to support another dessert stop. - The planned partnerships with schools, churches, organizations and chambers of commerce suggest the new shop is aiming for neighborhood visibility, not just walk-in traffic. - The grand-opening giveaway and live entertainment are designed to draw early traffic and build a customer base quickly.

What's next: - Handel’s plans to work with local schools, churches, organizations and the chambers of commerce in Cerritos and Artesia. - The company will rely on the Cerritos shop to add to its Southern California growth and support its broader expansion across 20 states. - The brand is also continuing to promote franchise opportunities through its corporate website.

The bottom line: - Handel’s is betting that a familiar brand, a local ownership team and a high-traffic corridor will help the Cerritos shop win customers fast.