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The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash
November 8, 2024 @ 8:00 pm
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Enjoy some of the music by Johnny Cash in this tribute performance at Caesars Atlantic City.
Kohr’s Frozen Custard: The Story Behind This Jersey Shore Staple
The 'Jersey Strong' term refers to the unity and resilience of those who reside in our beloved hometown known as the Garden State. When tremendous devastations, such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hit New Jersey, it was small business leaders who helped to withstand the storm and bring light to the hardship many locals were experiencing. In these times of trouble, people seek small beacons of hope and a sense of comfort amidst the chaos, and that's what Kohr's Frozen Custard has provided for the community since 1919.
The Jersey Shore Girl was lucky enough to speak to Greg Kohr, owner of Kohr's Frozen Custard, The Original. Greg gave us the inside scoop (no pun intended) on the famous Jersey Shore ice cream and frozen custard business that has become a source of happiness for generations of families and community members. Continue reading to discover more about Kohr's, the originators of frozen custard, who have established a landmark Jersey Shore business that feels like home to generations of customers.
The History
The story of Kohr's Frozen Custard begins in 1919 when three brothers, Archie (26), Clair (21), and Elton (17), from York, Pennsylvania, started delivering fresh milk and homemade ice cream to local homes and restaurants. A drastic difference from today's delivery options like Doordash and UberEats, the brothers hand-delivered their dairy products out of the back of a horse-drawn wagon and, later on, out of their Model T panel truck.
Archie, Clair, and Elton soon noticed they were only breaking even on profits, and they knew their homemade recipe had the potential for a larger-scale impact. That's when their Uncle Sylvester came into the story: he introduced the brothers to a machine capable of making a continuous flow of soft ice cream. This game-changing appliance was recently patented in 1914 and labeled "Meisenhelter Ice Cream Freezer."
The boys got their hands on the first machine manufactured by the machine shop in 1920, and in the fall, they took their business to the Delaware State Fair. In the way that most great stories go, the fair was a setback for the brothers, as they lost money. Archie, Clair, and Elton decided to take matters into their own hands by disassembling the machine, replacing some of its parts, and modifying others.
Their dismantling of the original machine was the moment that changed everything. When the brothers ran their new recipe through the redesigned machine, an amended version of what was their homemade ice cream appeared. It was unlike anything they had ever tasted before: silky, creamy, refreshingly cold, and "very rich flavor," as Greg described to JSG.
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Uncle Sylvester, gave the boys advice on where to take their revolutionary dairy treat — to the beach during the summer (of course). In 1919, the brothers ventured to Coney Island. They set up their booth, selling what they called, at the time, a "Frozen Dessert," which they created by using an early electric motor and freezing action achieved through the use of salt, rock, and ice.
The people of Coney Island couldn't get enough, and the Kohr brothers’ stand was an immediate success. On the opening weekend, they sold more than 18,000 cones — the brothers knew they had discovered something special.
Read More: Your Jersey Shore Beach Badge Guide
The Origin of Frozen Custard
The only issue they encountered during this period was that the ocean's salt air was causing the "Frozen Dessert" to melt more quickly than they'd have preferred. After countless attempts to alter the formula, Greg told JSG, "My grandfather (Elton) came up [with the idea to put] egg yolks into the ice cream so it wouldn't melt as fast."
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Elton and Archie noticed that the product became much stiffer and velvety and would melt much more slowly. Greg explained to JSG that "The egg yolk is an emulsifier which makes it creamy."
The brothers didn’t like the name “Frozen Dessert” anyhow and used the new recipe formulation to change the product’s name to “Frozen Custard.”
With the combination of the improved recipe and the new machine, they developed a light and fluffy product that is now famously known as the first and original frozen custard. The latest product proved to be a successful change, as the community showed its dedication to frozen custard and helped the brothers' business thrive.
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In 1923, Elton D. Kohr decided to break off on his own, and so he started his own business, called Kohr’s Frozen Custard, The Original. He opened his first store in Atlantic City.
Legacy
In 2025, Kohr's Frozen Custard is a staple Jersey Shore brand. Whether walking on the boardwalk or looking for a treat on the way home from the beach, Kohr's is a must-stop for a genuine New Jersey experience.
Greg Kohr, Elton's grandson, owns and operates six Kohr's locations, which have kept the legacy alive:
- Kohr's Frozen Custard The Original, Casino Pier: 800 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights
- Kohr's Frozen Custard, The Original, Franklin Avenue: 301 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights
- Kohr's Frozen Custard, The Original, Lavallette: 507 Grand Central Ave, Lavallette
- Kohr's Frozen Custard, The Original, Ortley Beach: 1956 NJ-35, Seaside Heights
- Kohr’s Frozen Custard, The Original: 1107 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights
- Kohr’s Frozen Custard, The Original: 1817 Promenade, Seaside Park
Greg highlighted to JSG, "My grandfather always stressed quality."
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Despite the passage of time, Greg ensures that the custard and ice cream products remain reminiscent of the standards his grandfather created back in 1919 by maintaining a present and hands-on approach to the operations of all his stores.
Childhood Commitment to Quality
Greg's commitment to maintaining the quality that his grandfather, Elton, established in the early 1900s stems back to his childhood when he learned from an early age the fundamental values behind Kohr's Frozen Custard and its dedication to the Jersey Shore.
"I lived in Seaside Heights every summer of my life. I grew up here, and I lived above [The Original: Franklin Avenue Kohr's Frozen Custard location],” he said. When I was a kid, around nine years old, I would come down and cut oranges to make the Orangeades."
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Greg told JSG that the Orangeade, which consists of fresh-squeezed orange juice, sugar, and water, is still made in-house: Kohr's employees squeeze all the oranges.
Greg went on to explain to JSG his payment for cutting the oranges as a child. "My father would give me a dime, and then I would run and play the pinball machines and the skeeball."
Another feature that remains today is Seaside Heights' boardwalk, which still has various games and arcades that continue to keep families connected before or after grabbing a Kohr's ice cream or custard.
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As Greg grew older, so did his responsibilities."By the time I was fourteen years old, I was working here full time, open to close. I was entrenched in the business,” he said.
Greg didn't see the extra layer of duties as a burden. Kohr's felt like home to him, as it still does for many local custard loyalists. "I just loved being here," he said to JSG.
That love remains because, in 2025, Greg still works at the Franklin Avenue location, where he was once cutting oranges as a nine-year-old.
Modern-Day Kohr's Menu
Greg helped to transfer his grandfather’s values into what we know as Kohr's Frozen Custard today.
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One of those foundational characteristics is the fact that Kohr's Frozen Custard is lower in fat and sugar than traditional ice cream. The soft-serve frozen custard contains 10% milk fat, while the hard ice cream contains 14% milk fat.
Customers love that it's guilt-free and equally as delicious. "It adds value to our company," Greg expressed.
So what's on the menu? A few staple items include:
- Hard Ice Cream: Including flavors like cookie dough, vanilla peanut butter, mint chocolate chip, and cherry vanilla.
- Soft Frozen Custard: Featuring options such as vanilla, chocolate, vanilla + chocolate twist, orange sherbet, and orange cream.
- Italian Ices: Your choice of cherry, mango, or lemon.
- Flavor Burst options like strawberry, raspberry, bubble gum, cool mint and more.
- Orangeade, Orange Float, or Orange Shake.
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If you're a Kohr's fan, it's hard to deny that one flavor consistently stands out. "The orange and vanilla [swirl] is one of our biggest flavors of custard. It's vanilla custard with an orange sherbet," Greg shared with JSG.
However, when asked what his favorite flavor was, Greg admitted, "I like the chocolate."
No matter the flavor preference, it's hard to leave Kohr's without feeling a bit happier.
When asked about some of his favorite aspects of owning and operating Kohr's, Greg told JSG, "I love seeing everybody and the expressions of the people when they eat the frozen custard,” he said.
Greg also highlighted that the upkeep of the quality of custard and ice cream, which would make his grandfather proud, is also due to the employees he hires, who often return for repeat summers and keep in touch years beyond. Greg shared stories with JSG of how past employees thanked him for the skills they learned while working at Kohr's, which helped shape them for success in their future careers.
See More: 10 Independently-Owned Ice Cream Shops in the Montclair Area
A Family-Owned Business
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Greg continued, "[Customers] will say, 'I remember having [the custard] as a child!' [...] They bring their grandchildren back [to Kohr's] because they want them to have the memories they had when they were children."
In many ways, Kohr's is a way for generations of family members, regardless of age, to come together and agree on one thing: a custard after the beach is a quintessential Jersey Shore tradition. It promises to remain the greatest treasure; no matter what turbulence may be going on, a Kohr's orange-and-vanilla swirl helps to make the situation feel better.
To learn more about Kohr's Frozen Custard, The Original, click here and be sure to try a frozen custard this summer.
