Hibbard's is open!

Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard begins 87^th season in Lewiston

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Oh, the suspense!

With the opening of Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard stand so close patrons could taste it … apparently, they grew tired of that saying and, instead, wanted to taste that world-famous custard.

“This year, I don't know what the difference is, but we have had just like hundreds of inquiries about, ‘When are we opening? When are we opening? When are we opening?’ from people coming into the (next-door Hibbard’s Old Portage Shop) liquor store, from people around town,” proprietor Kris Trunzo said Tuesday. “People are just calling the custard stand number to find when we're opening. I don't know what the difference is this year. Normally, people are asking, but we had to actually put a sign in the liquor store window, which we never did before, that said, ‘Custard stand opening Friday, April 3.’ They were just getting bombarded with questions of people coming into the liquor store asking.”

Alas, opening day is here, and “It's just very humbling that people are still that in love with custard,” Trunzo said.

That warm feeling for a cold dessert is the result of nearly 90 years of craftsmanship behind the counter at 105 Portage Road, Lewiston.

As the Hibbard’s history sheet explains, “Entrepreneur Harold Fredrick Hibbard (Trunzo’s grandfather) had enjoyed several successful business endeavors before launching his frozen custard business in 1939. In the late-1930s, while wintering in Florida, a persistent Mr. Hibbard convinced his friend and neighbor (whose family had been operating an ice cream and frozen custard stand since 1902) to share his specialty frozen custard formula with him. To launch his frozen custard business, Harold persuaded Chaplin Dairy in Rochester – not far from where the product was invented on Coney Island in 1919 – to make the special custard mix for him. …

“In the early days, the mix was shipped by train in cars whose only source of refrigeration was insulated jackets, which they would wrap around the 10-gallon, stainless-steel milk cans for the trip to the suspension bridge terminal in Niagara Falls.”

Celebrating opening day at Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard are team members Robin Collier, Dan Buchner and Kymbrlee Simmons. Visit Lewiston’s iconic sweet shop at 105 Portage Road, Lewiston.

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Fortunately, delivery is a little more practical these days – and the Hibbard family has settled on its own particular brand of flavorings, while adding in ice cream and novelties, and even partnered with the likes of Barenaked Ladies and Gary Baker for signature selections.

Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard is one of the oldest family-owned, continuously operated frozen custard stands still serving from its original location – in fact, it’s top 10 in the U.S.

But enough of this – there’s that custard you all want so much!

On Friday morning, Jane McGrath of Lewiston was the first customer of 2026. She ordered a chocolate custard in a regular cone – “The classic,” as she called it.

McGrath said it was a happy coincidence to be first in line.

“I was going to the liquor store for Easter,” product, she said.

McGrath saw staff working at the custard stand and walked over.

“There’s nothing better than Hibbard’s custard,” she said. “No better ice cream – nothing. It’s the best!”

To start the season, Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, extending hours once summer starts and school ends.

Patrons will be pleased to know Hibbard’s has kept its prices the same – for the third year in a row. With fees going up just about everywhere and for everything else, Trunzo said increasing the cost of custard was “the last thing” her family wanted to do to customers.

Hibbard’s offers its daily “core four” custards – chocolate, vanilla, black raspberry and pistachio – as well as a rotating roster of flavors. Day one featured cookies ’n’ crème, peanut butter and cherry cheesecake. Guests also can order Perry’s Ice Cream. Milkshakes can be made with either custard or ice cream – malt is free.

For those looking to up their dessert game, Hibbard’s offers sundaes, floats, coolers and the “Hibbard Hurricane” custard/topping mashup.

Kymbrlee Simmons and Robin Collier with the Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard cone crafted by Lewiston artist Maureen Kellick.