Handel’s Ice Cream signs first Chicago-area multi-unit deal

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has taken its first step into Illinois with a Chicago-area multi-unit agreement, but the hiring story for hourly workers is still a long way off. The chain plans stores in Elgin, Geneva/St. Charles and Algonquin, with the first location not scheduled to open until late 2027.

That timing matters for restaurant workers because it signals a staged pipeline rather than an immediate rush of job postings. Before a scoop is sold, a new unit has to go through site selection, buildout, pre-opening training and then staffing. For crew members, shift leaders and managers, that usually means the first opportunities will come in waves, with opening managers and trainers likely hired before the full front-line staff.

The franchisee behind the deal is Castro Rafeedie, who previously owned a pizzeria for nearly 12 years. That kind of operating background can make a difference on the floor, where labor decisions are often shaped by whether ownership understands the realities of hiring, turnover, scheduling and training. Handel’s also said it signed 20 new franchise agreements in seven states during 2026, a sign that the Illinois move is part of a broader expansion push rather than a one-off bet on the suburbs.

Founded in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945 by Alice Handel, the brand has grown into a franchised chain with more than 140 locations. Handel’s says it serves 48 rotating flavors every month and more than 100 flavors overall, a menu that points to a more hands-on production model than a simple frozen-dessert counter. That can translate into more training for workers on product handling and service, along with the operational pressure that comes with a wider flavor lineup and a busier buildout schedule.

Handel’s leadership has been signaling that kind of growth for months. Jennifer Schuler became chief executive in March 2024, and a company update in February said Handel’s closed 2025 with rapid expansion, national accolades and same-store sales growth. Older company material has described the business as having more than 500 locations, underscoring how aggressively the chain has marketed its growth over time.

For Chicago-area restaurant workers, the practical takeaway is simple: this is not a help-wanted notice yet, but it is a marker of where future jobs are likely to land. When the stores do open, the real questions will be pay, scheduling and whether the new units offer a path beyond short-term counter work.