Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, the 81-year-old Ohio-based franchise company with an average unit volume of $1,115,650 per its most recent Franchise Disclosure Document, has signed its first multi-unit development agreement in Illinois, committing three suburban Chicago locations to a franchisee who grew up in the brand’s home city of Youngstown, Ohio.
The agreement, announced June 10, 2026, brings Handel’s to Elgin, Geneva/St. Charles, and Algonquin, three communities in the collar counties surrounding Chicago. The new franchisee is Castro Rafeedie, an entrepreneur who grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where Handel’s was founded in 1945 by Alice Handel, and who later owned a pizzeria in Dublin, Ohio, for nearly 12 years. His family’s deep ties to the Chicagoland area were cited by the brand as a factor in the selection. The first Handel’s location in Illinois is targeted to open in late 2027.
On-Premise Production as the Deciding Factor
Rafeedie evaluated several franchise concepts before committing to Handel’s, and the brand’s on-premise production model was a key differentiator. Unlike many ice cream chains that manufacture in a central facility and ship product to locations, Handel’s requires each unit to produce ice cream fresh on-site, a practice that dates to Alice Handel’s original stand in Youngstown. That operational philosophy has been central to the brand’s positioning for more than eight decades. Rafeedie’s background in hands-on restaurant operations, combined with his personal familiarity with the brand as a Youngstown native, aligned closely with the profile Handel’s targets in franchise candidates.
A Record Development Year, With Illinois as the Third New Market
The Illinois agreement is Handel’s third new state market since January 1, 2026. Through mid-year, the brand has signed 20 new franchise agreements across seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. The brand currently operates more than 170 locations nationally, with more than 150 rotating seasonal flavors made fresh at each site. Its most recent FDD, published in April 2026, showed an average unit volume of $1,115,650, a figure that has increased for more than 10 consecutive years. “We’re so excited to be expanding into Illinois with such an incredible operator,” said Jennifer Schuler, CEO of Handel’s Ice Cream. “Partnering with franchise owners like Castro, who have the deep restaurant background, the deep roots in the community, and the drive to grow, is exactly what is going to make Handel’s a mainstay in the Chicagoland area for years to come.”
Chicago Suburbs and What Comes After the Initial Three Locations
The three committed markets, Elgin, Geneva/St. Charles, and Algonquin, are all established family-oriented suburban communities in Cook and Kane counties. The first units are expected to open in late 2027, giving Rafeedie time to complete real estate selection, buildout, and the brand’s training program. Erin Snyder, VP of Franchise Development at Handel’s, noted that interest from multi-unit entrepreneurs in Illinois has been strong and that the brand’s selectivity in choosing franchisees is a deliberate part of its expansion strategy. Handel’s has indicated the Chicago market represents a longer-term development corridor, with the potential for additional agreements beyond the initial three-unit commitment as the brand establishes its presence in the region.
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