Happy Place Homemade, a spot set to sprinkle some joy into Medford, is opening this fall.
Owner Tyler Gerber is bringing the sweet destination to his hometown at 690 Stokes Road, the former Bank of America building, transforming it into a vibrant community hub. Happy Place, a locally owned, family-friendly spot, puts a modern spin on the classic neighborhood treat shop.
“Happy Place Homemade was built with intention in every detail—from the food to the hospitality to the design of the building, inside and out, to our drive-thru,” Gerber told What Now Philadelphia. “We believe in creating something that actually lasts and feels thoughtful, welcoming and real.
He continued, “We’re trying to build what we call the new nostalgia. Growing up in Medford, I was always kind of yearning for that place that I truly wanted to go to.”
Happy Place’s menu showcases soft serve, cake donuts, coffee and refreshers, blending timeless flavors with fresh ideas all made from scratch.
The soft serve is crafted from a custom in-house base made with local milk, real fruit purées and premium flavorings. Classic chocolate and Madagascar vanilla are staples, alongside non-dairy options like Pineapple Dole Whip and dairy-free oat milk vanilla, with occasional limited-time “Flavor Drops” for a special treat. With 15 flavors served across six machines—including one fully dedicated to non-dairy options—there’s something for everyone.
They offer an ice cream parfait called ‘A Perfect,’ a playful nod to the fact that ‘parfait’ means ‘perfect’ in English. Another signature item, the Happy Stack, layers ice cream and a donut, topped with a drizzle and other toppings.
“Our perfect is our soft serve parfait. It’s one serving of soft serve with two toppings and a drizzle. Or, we have four curated options you can choose from. Same thing with coffee, we’ll have four curated options and then a create your own,” Gerber said.
The soft serve at Happy Place is unique because it doesn’t have the typical overrun found in most ice cream shops. Gerber explained overrun—the air content in ice cream—is usually 70 to 80 percent, which is why tall cones at other shops can look big but are mostly air. Happy Place’s soft serve, by contrast, is dense and holds its shape.
“We’re here to provide you with a product that’s about half of that, 30 to 40 percent air, it’s a much denser product,” he said. “It’s the way our machines are dialed in and it really makes a difference. You can see your teeth marks when you bite into it.”
Cake donuts spotlight freshly mixed batter cooked in a Belshaw Insider Donut Robot Mark V, fried and flipped automatically, then hand-glazed, dipped or drizzled, with mini donuts also available.
Coffee features locally roasted La Colombe beans brewed daily, served hot, iced or as cold brew, with seasonal and flavored options. Refreshers, a modern take on iced tea and lemonade, highlight real fruit flavorings and made-to-order freshness.
Gerber said they focus on the fine details. The coffee cups follow Happy Place’s signature pink, tea and black color scheme. They’re double-walled, so no sleeve is needed.
The shop will offer a drive-thru for visitors on the go.
“We have a drive-thru, so you could be in your sweatpants on a rainy day or maybe you’re having a bad hair day but decide you want a coffee or soft serve,” he said. “We tried to set this up so the concept is truly for our customers in every way possible.”
While an official opening date hasn’t been announced, Happy Place Homemade is set to debut in late October or early November. The shop will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing on Tuesdays.
For updates, scoop up the latest news on the shop’s website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include an official interview with Tyler Gerber.]
