CJ and Meg Chaney (Image: F-Stop Seattle courtesy of Old School Frozen Custard)
Like another cool character recently back from the dead, you might have some questions after this E Pine resurrection.
Where did you go? What did you see?
Capitol Hill’s Old School Frozen Custard is risen. With a week or so of quiet return to service under their belts, new owners Meg and CJ Chaney plan to bring cookie and software startup savvy to the “unpretentious flavors and big sundaes” of the creamy frozen treat hangout.
“We’re not changing the recipes,” CJ tells CHS. “We’re not touching anything on that side.”
But new things are ahead for Old School. The reboot is actually an acquisition. Meg’s Retro Cookies is taking over the company and now stands around 10 employees strong. CJ says the plan is to increase the presence of cookies and baked goods at the E Pike and 14th Ave shop. Increased cookie production is also on the horizon with baking already happening on site. CJ’s company Smartwhere, meanwhile, isn’t yet part of the Old School plans though we imagine its proximity marketing technology could be useful in alerting passersby to the frozen treats within. In the meantime, expect a lot of connection with followers through social media including new “fan flavors” on the Old School calendar.
The connections for Meg and CJ run deeper than the obvious business opportunity that presented itself with Rick Drouet and his business partners decided to hang up the Old School custard cutting scoop. CJ said Old School was the site of one of the couple’s first dates and they served the custard at their wedding.
CHS rather unceremoniously marked the closure of Old School in March buried in this post about the new “plant-based” ice cream shop Frankie and Jo’s coming to Pike/Pine. The shop opened as part of a small chain of Old Schools in the summer of 2009 back when frozen treats were still a rarity on Capitol Hill.
This Sunday, Capitol Hill will mark its ascendancy to the top of the city’s ice cream throne with the first ever Seattle Ice Cream Festival at Chophouse Row. Here’s the royal lineup: Sweet Bumpas / Molly Moon’s / Bluebird / Cupcake Royale / Gelatiamo / Balleywood Creamery / Kurt Farm Shop / Full Tilt / Parfait / Half Pint / Trove / Pink’s
While Old School won’t be scooping at Chophouse Row this weekend, they’re still ready for a crowd. CJ said he has been most surprised by how many fans the chain developed over the years and how many have been overjoyed to visit the reopened remaining Old School.
“There’s definitely an opportunity here. The amount of love for this IP is amazing,” CJ said, mixing a little software engineer into his new role as a frozen custard shop owner.
Old School Frozen Custard is located at 1316 E Pike. Learn more at facebook.com/OldSchoolFrozenCustard.
I’m cautiously thrilled. Here’s hoping the new owners will keep the unpretentious vibe of the space, which was as much of a draw as the excellent frozen custard!
I would totally would eat their frozen custard every day if I could. I would bathe in it, sleep in it, make it a national holiday.
Oh thank goodness! My parents and I were sad to hear they were closing- guess I’ll be passing on some good news tomorrow!