SCOOP: Bruster’s Ice Cream poised to open in Vienna today

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is ready to roll up its window in Vienna.

The latest franchise from the Pennsylvania-based ice cream company will open for business today (Thursday) at 237 Maple Avenue in Glyndon Plaza, a public relations representative confirmed to FFXnow.

The new shop will operate daily from noon to 9 p.m., following the same hours as other Bruster’s locations, including the one in Fairfax City.

“We are so excited to be a part of the community of which we are longtime residents,” Mohammed and Aisha Tariq, who own the Vienna franchise, said by email. “We visited the Bruster’s of Glen Burnie for years and are thrilled to have our own location and join the Vienna business community.”

The Tariqs have experience in the business world as operators of the First Start Childcare and Learning Center in Elkridge, Maryland. They were inspired to go from Bruster’s fans to owners by their kids, who they foresee potentially working at the shop once they’re older.

“We are excited for the opportunity to employ local youth in the area and teach them how to be successful entrepreneurs,” they said.

As previously reported, Bruster’s opened its first store in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, in 1989 and started franchising in 1993. It now has over 200 independently owned locations across 22 states, Guyana and South Korea, according to its website.

The business produces over 150 flavors that its franchises offered on a rotating basis. All of the ice cream is made on-site at each shop.

In addition, Bruster’s has limited-time and seasonal offerings, along with non-dairy, non-fat, sugar-free sorbets and sherbets. The featured flavors for March is a “Dino or Dirt Sundae” and “Cookie Craze,” which is described as blue vanilla ice cream with Oreo cookie chunks, crushed dinosaur-shaped sugar cookies, and cookie dough pieces.

Like the other locations, the Vienna franchise has outdoor seating but no indoor seating, instead serving patrons through pick-up windows.

Bruster’s previously had a location in Avenir Place near the Dunn Loring Metro station, but it closed in 2020 after the franchisee decided not to renew their lease.