It’s so cool! Boehringer’s brings back business

A trio of Boehringer’s staff (from left to right): Kam Mueller, Amelia Kowalski, and Brooke Burkholder are ready for today’s 11 a.m. opening.

Are you ready for some ice cream?

Chris Schnader made good on a promise to reopen Boehringer’s Drive-In after a May 18 fire.

Chris Schnader will make history this morning at the historic Boehringer’s Drive-In in Adamstown.

“This is the first year we’ll have two openings,” said Schnader, whose family has operated the famous landmark ice cream shop and restaurant since 1936.

Change is something you don’t typically associate with Boehringer’s but a damaging kitchen fire May 18 closed the shop just a few weeks into the season.

The fire threatened to permanently alter the restaurant’s look, feel, charm, and scariest of all: it jeopardized the 2014 summer ice cream season.

But Schnader at 11 a.m. will make good on a promise to reopen Boehringer’s exactly the way it’s been for decades.

“It’s not entirely unusual since I tear everything down and put it back together every year,” he said. “But this opening is different.”

Schnader and a construction crew continued to buzz about the kitchen Tuesday preparing for the opening along with Boehringer’s staff: Kam Mueller, Amelia Kowalski, and Brooke Burkholder.

“We’re all anxious to get back,” said Kowalski, who’s working her third season. “Yeah, we all need the money support but being back together with everybody is like reuniting with family.”

Schnader said he has no idea what to expect when the doors open today, but Burkholder and Mueller are prepared for a long day.

“We’ll be here all day I’m sure,” Burkholder said.

“We’re all hoping to work double shifts,” Mueller said.

The 2 a.m. May 18 fire was ignited by a new milk shake blender at the 3160 N. Reading Road business.

Schnader, who promised to reopen within about eight weeks, hit his target.

A new milkshake machine is in place and the freezer is packed with gallons goodness in 21 flavors.

“It’s a rush every year when I open up, but I’ve never had this feeling before,” he said. “It was a lot of work &tstr; eight weeks of grinding, pushing and everybody working extremely hard.”

Schnader thanked an outpouring of support from the community for making the re-opening possible this summer.

“I have so many people to thank for this starting with the firefighters who got up in the middle of the night to save the shop,” he said. “And I can’t thank Adamstown Borough enough for coming through with the building permits.”

Patrick Burns is a staff writer and editor for The Ephrata Review. He welcomes your questions and comments and can be reached at pburns.eph@lnpnews.com or at 721-4455

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