Community Highlights: Meet Nicole Fedorchek of Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Fedorchek

Hi Nicole , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I opened Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in January 2023, and it was quite the journey to make it happen! I was a HUGE fan of the brand when I lived in California, and missed the ice cream when I moved to the Nashville area in June 2020. My background is in Hotel Management and Real Estate, and I was looking for a business opportunity. I realized that Hendersonville didn’t have a lot of options for Ice Cream. So I researched the franchise company, and signed my franchise agreement in December 2020, to secure the rights to the Hendersonville market.
From there, I found a location, bought land, and got our plans approved by the city. Unfortunately, my husband passed away unexpectedly in August 2021, just as we were securing financing. This was our vision to open together, and I decided to carry on with the project. After securing new financing, I started construction in March 2022, and opened in January 2023.
We have our brick-n-mortar store in Hendersonville, which features a drive-thru and dog-friendly patio. We also operate 3 Catering Trucks for events, such as schools, churches, weddings, private parties, and community festivals.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Outside of what I mentioned previously, the biggest hurdle was the construction process itself. It was slated to take 6 months, and it turned into 10 1/2 months. The biggest challenge in ground-up construction was working with the Utility Companies. Between electrical and gas, it caused a 4-month delay with permitting and getting appropriate equipment installed.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bruster’s Real Ice Cream ?
We make fresh premium ice cream in our store every day! We have a true Cow-to-Cone concept, as our franchise company owns the dairy in Pennsylvania that our product comes from. Our base mix is shipped to our stores within 2 weeks of production, and we make ice cream and serve it within about 2 weeks. So our product’s shelf life is about 1 month. That sets us apart from other Ice Cream places that are mass-produced in a factory and kept in deep storage.
We serve our ice cream in cups, cones, milkshakes, and sundaes! We also offer custom cakes and pies for special occasions.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love seeing our patio full of people relaxing and enjoying some family time with our ice cream! Keep us in mind if you’re planning a wedding, birthday party, or special event – we’d love to make your event a little sweeter! We support our community through helping local schools and non-profits with Fundraising through Spirit Nights, Car Washes, and our Bruster’s Bucks Booklet Sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brusters.com/hendersonville
• Instagram: brustershendersonville
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brustershendersonville