MilkShake Factory’s menu includes as house-made ice cream that is churned in-store daily and hand-decorated chocolates crafted using family recipes passed down for generations. — Courtesy: MilkShake Factory.
By Joshua Burd
MilkShake Factory, a premium dessert brand, is entering New Jersey with three newly announced locations set to open over the next year.
The chain, which is based in the Midwest, said its first store in the state will debut this fall at 177 Newark Ave. in Jersey City. That will give way to additional locations at 187 Columbia Turnpike in Florham Park and 189 West Main St. in Somerville, giving locals a taste of its handspun milkshakes and small batch, premium chocolates.
“New Jersey is such a vibrant, diverse state, and we’re excited to introduce our signature shakes and chocolates here,” said Dana Edwards Manatos, founder and CEO of MilkShake Factory. “Downtown Jersey City will be the first of multiple doors in the region, and we look forward to becoming a sweet destination for the surrounding communities.”
New Jersey represents the latest step in MilkShake Factory’s rapid nationwide growth, following successful recent launches in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, according to a news release. Founded more than 100 years ago as a small chocolate shop in Pittsburgh, the chain has grown into a nationally recognized premium dessert brand while staying true to its heritage, the company said, touting menu items such as house-made ice cream that is churned in-store daily to hand-decorated chocolates crafted using family recipes passed down for generations.
Its milkshake flavors include fan favorites like Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and Campfire S’mores, alongside decadent Chocolate Molten Cups, non-dairy options and handcrafted chocolate bark collections, the news release said. The brand’s latest launch, the Dubai-Style Chocolate Bar, layers pistachio crème and toasted kataifi in rich milk chocolate, drawing inspiration from global dessert trends.
“Launching in downtown Jersey City is an exciting way to introduce MilkShake Factory to New Jersey,” Manatos said. “The community’s energy, diversity and food culture make it the perfect place to begin our journey here.”
