Iconic Ice Cream Stop On Way To Jersey Shore Set To Reopen
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A southern New Jersey landmark is coming back to life, thanks to a couple of retired hospital executives who decided to take on a new challenge.
For decades, the custard stand on Route 73 in Winslow with the Alfred E. Newman-looking statue was a regular stop for shorebound travelers looking for a treat before they got onto the Atlantic City Expressway.
But Mr. Bill's closed two years ago.
Enter John and Cheryl Ernst. He, the retired CEO of Deborah Hospital. The couple bought Mr. Bill's with no prior restaurant experience.
"No. I would burn toast," John said.
But they're refurbishing the restaurant, aiming for a re-opening this month. John says customers apparently can't wait...
"Every day I'm here working, 14-15 cars stop," he said, "hoping that it's open by virtue of the fact that there's a few workmens' cars here, plus mine."
Cheryl says they'll keep the same menu of ice cream, custard and sandwiches with one change from the previous owners...
"For us, we're going to lower those prices," she said. "Because again, we want to be friendly to everybody."
Cheryl has been hiring vendors, while she acknowledges the wave of social media gratitude from would-be customers.
"I knew it was an iconic South Jersey landmark, but I didn't realize that people were so sad when it closed," she said. "And for us, we didn't expect that kind of response."
And to get ready for the reopening, Cheryl says the 24-foot Mr. Bill statue has a new paint job.
