August 28, 2026

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Whit’s Frozen Custard Adds Something Sweet to Siesta Key

The locally owned custard shop brings sundaes, Whitsers, and plenty of frozen temptation to the Village.

🍧 I’ve Had a Long Affair with Ice Cream. Or more generally, frozen confections. If it even resembles ice cream, you can deal me in!

I believe our “relationship” is a two-way street. I love it, and it mostly loves me back. (The scale in the morning sometimes begs to differ. 😟)

We’ll need to travel back in time to get the full appreciation here…

🗓️ Back in the Mid-70s, my “Professional” Career Was Just Getting Started. My first job with an actual paycheck (paperboy and lawn mowing excluded here) was as a dishwasher at a local diner. My second job was WAY sweeter.

There was a Baskin-Robbins directly next door to Tom’s Family Restaurant, where I washed that endless sink of dishes. The owner of this 31 Flavors, Mrs. Henry, was usually hiring.

I’d never filled out a job application before. I’m not sure what references a 15-year-old HS freshman could possibly have that could be worth checking. But I obviously had what they were looking for. My stint as a scooper was about to begin!

📝 Looking back on it, Mrs. Henry turned out to be one of the smartest managers of young people I have ever run across. Giving her teenage employees unlimited ice cream was a genius move, knowing full well that if we ate enough (and we did for the first month or so), there would be no incentive to sneak a scoop or two for free for the rest of the time we were employed there.

Being a Chicago Southsider, our ice cream traditions run deep. From Mitchell’s Ice Cream in South Shore to the Original Rainbow Cone in the Beverly neighborhood (we had one in Bradenton until 2023😔). Ice cream was part of our culture.

Sarasota used to be pretty vanilla when it came to ice cream opportunities. It has upped its frozen-treat game by multiples in recent years.

There are Kilwins locations on Siesta Key and St. Armands. A Jeni’s in the UTC area. Even a Carvel on the South Trail. All of those mix in with the many local and imported ice cream nameplates that grace our area.

📝 At one point in time, the Ben & Jerry’s store on St. Armands was supposedly the highest-volume single location in the company. Both Ben and Jerry have scooped their unique flavors at that St. Armands shop.

Now it’s time to add one more name to the blender!

Directly across Ocean Boulevard from that Kilwins and sharing a common wall with the Beach Club sits Whit’s.

🍦 Whit’s Frozen Custard, to be more exact. Whit’s is a growing chain of custard shops. They’re located in ten states, including their home state of Ohio. Our shiny new Whit’s is owned by Sarasota locals.

The shop is a family affair. It’s owned by the Fineberg family. Larry and Julie Fineberg draw the big picture. Their three sons manage the day-to-day tasks of making frozen treats and managing a hopefully growing line of customers.

It looks like an ice cream store.

It has a few tables for when things get a bit cooler outside.

It has an ice cream store floor.

And even an old-school photo booth for you to memorialize your visit! 📸

Ordering for the first time can be tricky. But I think once or twice through the line and you should have the process down. It is ice cream, not brain science. 😉

It goes something like this.

1️⃣ Pick a “Creation”

2️⃣ Pick a size

3️⃣ Figure out if you want it as a sundae (we all know what that is) OR as a “Whitser.” 📝 This is kind of like a DQ Blizzard or a Culver’s Concrete Mixer. Vanilla custard with toppings blended in.

4️⃣ Enjoy your personalized treat! 🍨

I went for a Buckeye Madness (Reese’s Cups, chocolate syrup, and peanut butter). I went for it sundae-style. This has all of my favorite ice cream flavors all married in one delicious spot.

It’s really a work of icy art! Mine started like this…

And ended pretty quickly like this…

I didn’t want to take any chances with this thing of beauty being reduced to a puddly peanut butter and chocolate soup. So, I stayed indoors and kept the spoon working! 😊

If you’d like to take a little custard to go, they’ve got a nice selection in a stand-up freezer case.

They’ve had some nice traffic since they opened their doors a couple of weeks back. But you know, it’s August out on Siesta, so every Whitser means a lot to this business that’s just lifting off.

🎀 Let’s Put a Bow on This. Yes, there are a lot of places where you can get a dish of frozen goodness. And, yes, we all have our “go-to” favorites. But it’s always nice to add something new to the mix. If “soft serve” is your thing, you will LOVE Whit’s. If “soft serve” isn’t your thing, maybe just keep that special someone company while they indulge! 😋

WHIT’S FROZEN CUSTARD

📍 5147 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key Village

☎️ 941-906-9719

🌐 whitsfrozencustard.com

📝 END NOTES –

Whit’s has “Flavors of the Week.” A lot of these sound pretty damn tasty. Good enough to get me off of the Buckeye Madness. How about a Penguin Tracks (Vanilla Custard with Brownie Bites, Fudge Swirls & Caramel Swirls) or a Fluffer Nutter Cookie (Vanilla Custard with Crushed Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter Swirls & Marshmallow Swirls)?

A lot has been made over the years about chain restaurants on Siesta Key. Even though Whit’s is part of a larger group, the local ownership and day-to-day operation of the store make it feel just like any other local business on the island.

Parking can be a challenge in Siesta Key Village, especially during season. There is a small parking lot adjacent to Whit’s. Plus, there is a free municipal parking lot just down Avenida Madera from the store. There is also paid parking across Ocean Boulevard at Davidson’s Plaza.

~ LH

📌 ODDS & ENDS

🚩 Clarification. Last week we wrote about the burger at Pigfish. We just wanted to make it clear that since the changeover in chefs, the menu has been rebuilt and reimagined. That includes all-new recipes and dishes. Not an easy task. But seems like Chef Alex’s staff was up to the challenge!

⏰ A Lot to Celebrate! All anniversaries are worth celebrating. But a twentieth year for a chef at the same restaurant is borderline remarkable.

📝 Industry estimates put the average tenure of an executive chef at roughly two to four years.

So, congrats to Chef Greg Campbell! He’s marking twenty years helming the kitchen of Pier 22. That’s a milestone for sure. And to celebrate, they are breaking out the partyware!

On September 12, you can enjoy a five-course dinner “inspired by the flavors, techniques, and experiences that have shaped Chef Greg’s career.” This should be a memorable night of feasting and feting. Interested? – HERE’S MORE EVENT INFO!

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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD INFO🗓️

Here is some local food information that we think you might find interesting. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.

📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2026 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖

📰 ALL THE LATEST SARASOTA FOOD NEWS! – OUR NEWS PAGE!

📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Tralia Pizza – MENU HERE!

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🧑‍🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO ‍🌾

EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS

EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS

EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS

EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS

EVERY THURSDAY – Englewood Farmer’s Market (Oct-May) – DETAILS

EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS

EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS

EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Florida Farmer’s Market – DETAILS

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS

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