Honey Hut Keeps Its Flavors and Focus Local

Summer might be over, but is still serving up cool treats to local families throughout the fall.

The business that started in the ’70s in Cleveland has strong family ties, said Marcia Rosati, owner of the Brecksville store. The stores across the region, from Edgewater Park to , are all owned by members of the Page family—Rosati is a member—and the homemade ice cream is created by Rosati’s brother.

“We don’t skimp on quality just to save a dollar or two,” she added.

The business uses fresh fruit and honey to create its ice cream—whatever they can find locally, Rosati said—and the flavors change with the seasons, like Pumpkin Pie in October.

They watch for what’s ripe and what’s popular with customers, Rosati said. The store uses social media, like Twitter and Facebook, to let customers know about new flavors, because when they’re gone, they’re gone for the season.

Rosati’s son, Jonathan Rosati, works as a manager at the Brecksville location when he’s not teaching at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He said he thinks working in an ice cream store is the best place to be in the food industry because everyone’s happy to be there.

“People come here because they want dessert,” he said.

The friendly atmosphere and the old-fashioned feel keep people coming back. Jonathan Rosati said he often hears people who say they grew up near the Cleveland location and wanted to bring their children.

Marcia Rosati said she and her husband wanted to open their store in Brecksville because they lived nearby and loved the area, which had a “nice hometown feel.” As soon as a spot opened up, they called within days. 

The store opens on every year—Rosati said her father is Irish, so it’s their way of celebrating—and closes in mid December. That way, she said, everyone gets to enjoy the holidays.

“We find it works for everybody,” she said.