Business & Tech

Erma's Frozen Custard Preps for April 1 Opening, Adds Frequent Customer Card for 2013

Erma's Frozen Custard on Auburn Road in Shelby Township will open for the season on April 1.

Come rain, snow or shine, Erma's Frozen Custard will start its 71st season in Shelby Township on April 1.

A summer tradition for generations, the small roadside stand served its first bowl of custard in 1942 and has become a local legend in the seven decades since.

"It’s a nostalgia thing," said manager Cindy Schoenherr. "It’s always been there and it’s still kind of the same. We really do work hard to keep that mom-and-pop ambiance and that old-fashioned feeling. It’s more of a destination than just going to get ice cream somewhere."

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Located at 6451 Auburn Rd. in Shelby Township, Erma's opens each year on April 1 and serves up its famous frozen custard through Halloween.

As per tradition, banana will start the season's specialty custard flavors, with red velvet cake as a bonus, April 1-7. 

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"For a good 30 years, we've always started the season with banana and ended it with pumpkin," Schoneherr said. "It's tradition. But all bets are off for the rest of the season."

Frozen custard faithful looking for a sneak peek at this year's menu will find a list of weekly specials, bonus flavors and Erma's ice on the business' website.

Receiving a positive response to last season's create-your-own-flavor contest, Schoneherr said Erma's will once again give customers the opportunity to nominate and vote on a new flavor to run as a special after Memorial Day.

The stand will also be trying some new flavors and creations, such as a chocolate-covered pretzel explosion and more seasonal items. And for those who find themselves addicted to Erma's, a new punch card will allow frequent customers to earn freebies after a set number of visits.

As April 1 draws closer, Schoenherr said Erma's employees are hard at work preparing the original Shelby Township location and the new store in Warren (2080 14 Mile Road) for another successful season.

So what can customers do while they wait?

"Pray for sun," Schoneherr said. "We know our customers will be lining up before we even open April 1 – one year they were out there waiting in the snow – but when the weather cooperates it really makes all the difference."

For more information, visit Erma's website, Facebook page or sign up for the online mailing list.

Check Shelby-Utica Patch's business directory to find other frozen custard and ice cream shops in Shelby Township and Utica, such as Dairy Queen, Maceri's Soup and Scoop and Cold Stone Creamery, to name a few.


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