“It’s been very good. We just wanted to make sure everything was safe and in its place. We were doing some fine-tuning to make sure it was ready,” Raters said of the short delay. The store had been expected to open at 11 a.m., but because of the delay employees had to turn away a handful of customers in the late morning.
When the store finally opened, Oxford residents and other visitors were ready for their ice cream.
“I think it’s great; we’re very excited. I’m a Cincinnati native, so Graeter’s ice cream is what I grew up on,” said resident Kari King, who, befitting an Ohio resident, favored the Buckeye sundae.
“It’s awesome,” said resident Sam Mack, who was visiting Graeter’s for the first time anywhere. “It’s nice that we finally have an ice cream place other than UDF (United Dairy Farmers).”
The new Graeter’s location is already drawing out-of-towners too.
Robin Richardson, of Boston, Ind., was visiting Oxford Monday and decided to stop by Graeter’s for the first time.
“I thought I saw something on TV about how they make it (Graeter’s ice cream). So when they told me it was here, I thought it was good stuff,” Richardson said.
The Oxford store employs about 20 people and is still hiring now. The Cincinnati company wants to see how business goes before making a final determination on the number of employees, said Raters. Richard Greater, the president and CEO of the company, had wanted to open a store in Oxford because he’s a Miami alumnus, class of 1986.
“We just wanted to bring Cincinnati to Oxford for Miami students, and we hope we’re well welcomed … The customers all look happy,” said Raters, who added that a grand opening will be held at a date to be determined. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and noon to 11 p.m. Sundays.
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