Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor offering free scoops in the Pittsburgh Strip

Between Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, Klavon ice cream Parlor is organizing what you might call Free Scoop on Saturday.

Klavon’s, which opened in the Pittsburgh Strip District in 1923, offers a free scoop of ice cream while stocks last in any of its 20 flavors, including seasonal choices such as pie a la pumpkin and sweet potato pie. The store at 2801 Penn Ave. will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

“It’s a way of thanking the city for its support during all these years, including during the pandemic,” said owner Jacob Hanchar of Sharpsburg. “It’s also a way to celebrate our nationwide expansion. ”

A second location is planned for Ohio. Hanchar identified three historic sites in Cleveland as potential locations. The franchise will be run by his cousin Jeff Hanchar, of Tremont in Cleveland, Ohio. The plan is to provide franchise opportunities in cities of 300,000 or more residents across the country, said Jacob Hanchar. It has been in the works for seven years.

Hanchar said he thinks the day after Black Friday and before Cyber ​​Monday is perfect for free ice cream. The last time Klavon’s offered a similar special, 10,000 customers visited.

Hanchar said the ice cream shop survived during the pandemic as it switched to delivery through the Uber Eats app very early and was one of the first small businesses in the region to give employees $ 15 per l ‘time.

“When I speak with people who are interested in a franchise, I can tell them it’s an attractive business,” said Jacob Hanchar. “It’s covid proof and if it can survive that, it can survive anything. Plus, ice cream is fun.

The place is reminiscent of a classic soda / apothecary fountain.

James and Mary Klavon first opened Klavon’s in 1923 as a neighborhood drugstore and ice cream shop. The store closed in 1979 and lay dormant for two decades. It reopened in 1999. Jacob and Desiree Hanchar bought it in 2013.