Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is making its way to Tomball with a new shop planned for 25555 Tomball Parkway. The upcoming location will mark the fourth Texas store for local Franchisee Edmund Martinez and his family, who have been steadily growing their presence in the region for nearly two decades.
Their first Bruster’s store opened in Spring back in 2005. A second followed in Conroe off Hwy 1488, which they refer to as their Woodlands location, and their newest shop in Lake Conroe is set to open next week. The Tomball shop will build on that momentum, with plans to expand to as many as ten locations over the next three to four years.
This family-run franchise effort has grown into a well-oiled operation. Edmund’s wife originally kicked off the journey into franchising, and their son Greg later returned from a career in hospitality and fine dining to help scale the business. Together, they’re combining their industry experience with a focus on local customer service and consistency.
Bruster’s, known for its walkup and drive-thru model, offers outdoor seating at each location and a rotating team of six to eight scoopers on shift to keep things moving. The brand owns its dairy and uses a unique 45-minute pasteurization process, with fresh mixes delivered weekly and all ice cream made on site. “We liked the model so well, so that’s why we stayed with it. It’s fun, and the thing we most like about the brand is giving young kids their first job,” said Martinez.
The new Tomball and Lake Conroe locations both feature Bruster’s updated design, which includes modern digital technology while keeping the brand’s homemade, nostalgic feel intact. The family says their success so far comes down to one main thing, which is making sure every guest leaves happy.
The new Tomball location is expected to open by the first quarter of 2026.