One western Pennsylvania roadside stand has been serving frozen custard since 1978, building a loyal following around black raspberry cones, homemade waffle cones, and more than 200 shake combinations.
The menu has grown to include rotating custard flavors, frozen pies, poutine, and Pittsburgh-style sandwiches, but the creamy custard remains the main attraction. Add a family story spanning two generations, and it is easy to see why summer crowds keep returning year after year.
The Address and the Story Behind the Stand
Jerry’s Custard sits at 2705 7th Street Rd, Lower Burrell, PA 15068, tucked along Seventh Street Road in a spot that you might nearly miss if you are not paying attention. The building itself has a past worth mentioning: it was formerly the Triangle Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance before it became the home of one of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s most beloved frozen treats.
Jerry Connolly opened the original stand in 1978, ran it until 1982, and then stepped away to pursue a tire business. Fast-forward nearly two decades, and his daughter Tammy Connolly reopened the stand in 2001, breathing new life into a name the community had clearly never forgotten.
Jerry himself, now 82, still shows up regularly, making the whole operation feel like a living piece of local history. The fact that a church became a custard stand feels oddly fitting for a place that inspires this much devotion.
What Makes Frozen Custard Different From Regular Soft Serve
A lot of people show up expecting something like the soft serve they grab at a fast food drive-through, and they leave completely surprised. Frozen custard is a different product entirely, and the difference is noticeable from the very first bite.
The higher milk fat content and the addition of eggs give custard a denser, silkier texture that holds its shape longer and melts more slowly on a warm afternoon. That means you can actually sit outside, enjoy the scenery, and have a conversation without your treat turning into a puddle in your hand.
At Jerry’s, the custard is made with fresh dairy from Marburger Dairy Farm in Evans City, which keeps the quality local and the flavor noticeably fresh. The richness is real, not manufactured, and that is exactly why people who try it once rarely go back to ordinary soft serve.
The texture alone is reason enough to make the drive.
Rotating Seasonal Flavors That Keep Every Visit Fresh
One of the smartest things about Jerry’s is that the menu never gets stale. Flavors rotate on a regular basis, so there is always a reason to come back and see what is new on the board.
Vanilla and black raspberry are constants that regulars count on, but the seasonal lineup goes well beyond the basics.
Cake batter, butter pecan, apple pie, double chocolate chip, turtle, and raspberry cheesecake are just a few of the flavors that appear throughout the season. The rotation keeps things exciting, and it also means that no two visits feel exactly the same.
Gluten-free options are available as well, which means more people get to enjoy the experience without having to sit on the sidelines. Whether you are a creature of habit who always orders the same thing or an adventurous eater who loves a surprise, the flavor lineup at Jerry’s has something genuinely worth looking forward to every single time you visit.
The Black Raspberry That Earned Its Own Fan Club
Ask almost anyone who has been to Jerry’s what they recommend, and the answer comes back fast: black raspberry. This flavor has developed a reputation that borders on legendary in the local area, and after trying it myself, I completely understand why people are so vocal about it.
The flavor is bold and fruity without being artificial or overly sweet. The custard base gives it a creaminess that amplifies the berry notes in a way that a sorbet or a standard ice cream simply cannot match.
It is the kind of flavor that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you are eating.
Served in a crispy waffle cone, the contrast between the crunchy exterior and the dense, cold custard is genuinely satisfying. The homemade waffle cones at Jerry’s have their own devoted following, and for good reason.
If black raspberry is on the board during your visit, ordering anything else first would be a mistake you might regret on the drive home.
Over 200 Shake Combinations and the Art of the Hand-Mixed Custard Shake
Two hundred flavor combinations for a milkshake is not a typo. Jerry’s offers over 200 different hand-mixed custard shake options, built using whole fruit and cream pie fillings that get blended directly into the custard base.
The result is a shake that tastes like dessert and a meal all at once.
The hand-mixing process matters more than it might seem. Rather than running everything through a machine, the flavors are worked into the custard by hand, which keeps the texture thick and ensures the mix-ins are evenly distributed throughout every sip.
A peanut butter milkshake comes out tasting genuinely peanut buttery, not just vaguely flavored.
The seasonal peppermint milkshake has also earned fans who look forward to it specifically. With this many combinations available, the hardest part of any visit is narrowing down the options before you reach the window.
Bring a friend, order two different shakes, and plan to share, because choosing just one feels like an unnecessary sacrifice.
Frozen Custard Pies That Deserve Their Own Spotlight
Fairly recently, Jerry’s expanded the menu in a direction that nobody was expecting but everyone immediately appreciated: handmade frozen custard pies. These are not afterthoughts or simple scoops pressed into a crust.
They are crafted with intention, featuring rich buttercream whipped cream and fillings that range from turtle and caramel Snickers to banana split, apple pie, Butterfinger fudge, and chocolate Reese’s.
The pies work as a takeaway option for gatherings, parties, or honestly just a Tuesday when you want something special waiting in the freezer at home. They come in multiple flavors, and each one carries the same quality standard that Jerry’s applies to every product on the menu.
The chocolate Reese’s version, in particular, hits every note you want from a frozen dessert: chocolate, peanut butter, custard creaminess, and a satisfying crust holding it all together. These pies have quietly become one of the most talked-about additions to the menu, and they show that this small stand is not standing still.
Savory Surprises: Poutine and Pittsburgh-Style Sandwiches
Most people arrive at Jerry’s thinking exclusively about dessert, and then they notice the savory side of the menu and have to completely rethink their visit. The poutine here is the real deal: hand-cut French fries topped with homemade gravy and cheddar cheese curds, with the option to add hamburger, sirloin steak, or chopped steak on top.
It is hearty, filling, and exactly the kind of food that makes a custard run feel like a full evening out rather than just a quick stop. The Pittsburgh-style sandwiches featuring sirloin or chopped steak round out the savory offerings and give the menu a personality that goes well beyond a standard dessert stand.
Nachos have also been spotted on the menu, giving visitors who want something salty before their sweet treat a solid option. The combination of savory and sweet in one location makes Jerry’s a genuinely versatile stop, and it means the whole family can find something they want without anyone compromising.
That is a harder thing to pull off than it sounds.
The Outdoor Seating Area That Makes You Want to Linger
A good frozen custard stand needs good seating, and Jerry’s delivers on that front in a way that feels genuinely relaxing rather than just functional. The outdoor area features picnic tables and benches set in a treed, grassy space that provides shade and a sense of calm you do not always find at a roadside food stop.
There is also a fenced section where younger kids can move around safely while the adults finish their custard in peace. Ample parking makes arrival straightforward, and the overall layout of the property feels thoughtfully arranged for families who want to sit down and actually enjoy the experience rather than eat on the go.
On a warm evening, the seating area fills up with locals catching up, kids running around with cones, and the general happy noise of people who are exactly where they want to be. That atmosphere is hard to manufacture, and at Jerry’s it comes naturally.
The setting alone earns a second visit.
Local Dairy, Local Values, and Why Sourcing Matters Here
The quality of frozen custard depends directly on the quality of the dairy used to make it, and Jerry’s takes that seriously. All of the fresh dairy ingredients come from Marburger Dairy Farm in Evans City, Pennsylvania, which keeps the sourcing local and the product connected to the region in a meaningful way.
Supporting a local farm rather than pulling from a generic commercial supply chain is a decision that shows up in the final product. The custard has a freshness to it that is difficult to pinpoint but easy to taste, and knowing where the ingredients come from adds a layer of appreciation that enhances the experience.
For customers who care about where their food originates, this sourcing choice is a genuine selling point. For customers who just want something delicious, the result speaks for itself without any explanation needed.
Either way, the relationship between Jerry’s and Marburger Dairy Farm is a quiet but important part of what makes this stand stand out from the competition in western Pennsylvania.
Community Events and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt
A business that runs an annual Easter Egg Hunt is a business that understands its community. Jerry’s Custard hosts this event every year, and families in the area treat it as a seasonal tradition rather than just a promotional event.
It draws regulars back before the full summer season kicks into gear and gives kids a reason to be excited about the stand from early spring onward.
The Easter Egg Hunt is the kind of community touchpoint that builds loyalty in a way that no advertisement can replicate. When a child grows up looking forward to a specific event at a specific local business, that business becomes part of their story, and those customers tend to stay loyal for decades.
Jerry’s also opens each year in March, which means it serves as a reliable signal that warmer days are on the way for people in the Alle-Kiski Valley. For many regulars, the reopening announcement is something they genuinely watch for, which says a great deal about how deeply this stand is woven into local life.
A Growing Legacy: The New Indiana Township Location
Good things have a way of spreading, and in April 2024, Jerry’s Custard announced the opening of a mini version of the store in Indiana Township, with doors opening in June 2024. The expansion is a natural next step for a business that has spent years building a reputation strong enough to carry its name to a new location.
The important detail for quality-conscious fans is that all custard production continues to take place at the original Lower Burrell site. The new location is not a franchise with a different recipe.
It is an extension of the same operation, using the same product made in the same place that started it all in 1978.
That commitment to keeping production centralized reflects the values that have made Jerry’s successful in the first place. Growth that compromises quality is not growth worth having, and the decision to keep the kitchen at the original stand tells you exactly what kind of business this is.
The story that began on 7th Street Road is clearly not finished yet.
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