Jason and Laura Kasten had their first date at Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream shop more than two decades ago. So when the couple heard the iconic store was closing, they and their daughter Sarah reached out to owner Andy Hardie to reopen the business.
Jason and Sarah are the new co-owners and Laura is the manager. It will still be called Dave & Andy’s.
“We are so excited,” said Sarah Kasten, a junior majoring in media and professional communication with a minor in economics at University of Pittsburgh. “We are a big sweet tooth family. We want to carry on the tradition of Dave & Andy’s.” The store closed in April as Hardie decided to retire after 40 years of running the business.
Sarah Kasten said her favorite flavor is birthday cake but she loves every flavor. She said the family has been cleaning and painting the shop to prepare it. She and her parents have also collaborated with three employees who worked there before to learn how to make the ice cream. They plan to keep the same recipe, Sarah Kasten said.
The Oakland shop was known for more than 200 flavors, including the aforementioned birthday cake, ginger snap, brown butter, black raspberry chocolate chunk, Kit Kat fudge, Nutella and cannoli.
An Instagram post on Monday said the rumors about Dave & Andy’s reopening are true.
A tentative reopening is set for Sept. 7.
“Dave and Andy are dear friends of ours,” Sarah Kasten said. “I have heard many times about my parents’ first date there and they took me there many times. That is why this is so special to them. It was a simple and sweet date which turned into so much more.“
Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream shop is located at 207 Atwood St., Oakland.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.