Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, a Pennsylvania-based chain known for its small-batch frozen desserts, is getting ready to open in San Diego at 8135 Mira Mesa Boulevard #3.
The company’s second location is set to move into the former home of GameStop, according to documentation recently submitted to the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality. Although there is no exact opening date for this location, co-owners Traci Harris and Terry Roberts are expected to open around the end of the year, possibly early next year. The two tell What Now San Diego at a recent Accelerate event that the team is actively working on the buildout. Customers can expect made-to-order sundaes, milkshakes, Italian ice, and rotating ice cream flavors—all prepared fresh onsite daily.
The expansion follows Bruster’s initial entry into the San Diego market with a new store in La Mesa, now scheduled to open this October at 8497 Fletcher Parkway. Harris tells What Now San Diego that they are planning an official soft opening on Thursday, October 30, with hours from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. The location features a drive-thru and outdoor seating, and is designed to serve as a family-friendly neighborhood dessert stop. The Mira Mesa shop is expected to follow a similar model.
Founded in 1989 in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, Bruster’s operates nearly 200 independently owned locations across 22 U.S. states and Guyana. Each shop produces ice cream in-house using a proprietary slow-kettle process and dairy mix. The brand rotates 24 flavors at a time from a recipe bank of over 150 options.
Menu offerings include sundaes, banana splits, waffle cones, milkshakes, and non-dairy Italian ices. Seasonal and limited-time flavors are featured throughout the year, alongside options for customers seeking dairy-free, no-sugar-added, or gluten-free treats.
The Mira Mesa location positions Bruster’s in a densely populated residential and commercial corridor with strong foot traffic and visibility. The site is expected to attract both residents and commuters from the surrounding neighborhoods.
