Heat Wave & Ice Cream: Handel's In Berwyn Chills Scorcher

EASTTOWN TWP —In the scorching heat late Tuesday afternoon, two friends smiled in anticipation as they waited in line for ice cream at Handel’s in Berwyn.

Holly Savini, 26, and Erika Wenk, 23, just got off work at Seeds of Help, an outpatient eating disorder treatment facility in Paoli, and decided to go to their favorite ice cream parlor in Easttown Township.

“We needed a treat,” Savini said. “It’s a very hot day.”

“I’m going to get a milkshake,” Wenk decided, looking at a list of several dozen flavors of freshly made ice cream. “There are so many flavors. People like to bond over food. It’s fun.”

As the day went on, the temperature rose up to 91 degrees, and with the humidity, it felt like 96 degrees, according to the National Weather Service based in Mount Holly, N.J.

Excessive heat warnings were in effect in southeastern Pennsylvania. The heat and humidity is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Pennsylvania DEP declared an Air Quality Action Day Tuesday due to high levels of pollutants in the ozone layer.

Even though it was hot and the air quality was poor, the two friends were laughing and enjoying ice cream.

“You would think more people would be here,” Savini said.

On a typical day, the line at Handel’s stretches to 50 people or longer. The wait can typically be 45 minutes.

But Handel’s is more than just a place to get ice cream. It’s a community gathering place to catch up with friends, according to Casey Buchanan, an owner and manager.

Despite the heat, a steady flow of customers stopped for ice cream on Tuesday.

Buchanan said ice cream always makes people happy. Handel’s opened Aug. 23, 2005.

Buchanan said when it’s really hot like Tuesday afternoon, the line simmers down.

“At night, when it cools down, everyone will be here,” Buchanan said. “People really like homemade ice cream.”

With dozens of flavors to choose from, believe it or not, the most popular flavor is vanilla. Second is graham central station and coffee chocolate chip.