Razzle's History

Article in Patriot News
September, 2008

“Old Gets a New Home”

Razzles favors antiques, dispenses slow-cook style of ice cream

The owners of Roxy’s Chatterbox Café encourage customers to stroll down West Main Street, Hummelstown, and memory Lane to Razzles old fashioned ice cream parlor. The ice cream eatery, at 40 W Main St, two blocks east of the café, is the newest venture for Steve and Roxanne Bracale. The couple, who started Roxy’s Chatterbox Café in 2003, opened Razzles in June. The name honors, Razzle, their miniature Labradoodle. “It’s set up like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. I’ve been collecting antiques since I was ten years old,” Roxanne says.

“Razzle”

Razzles is decorated with antique signs and artifacts reminiscent of the early 20th century, matching the building’s age. Candy is sold from an antique confection counter next to an old phone booth and a 1940’s Coca-Cola machine. Roxanne says she hopes to have the Coke machine running by the end of the year.

Razzles specialty is Perry’s Ice Cream, made by a fourth generation family-owned business near Buffalo, NY. Roxanne said Razzles is the first mid-state business to offer Perry’s Ice Cream. The brand is popular in New York and western PA. The Bracale’s became fans when visiting Steve’s father’s cabin in Tioga County.

Perry’s is one of the few ice cream manufacturers to slow-cook its mixes “one batch at a time” over simmering heat instead of using quicker modern technology, according to Marissa Tringali, Perry’s spokeswoman.

Roxanne said this makes all the difference in creating the ice cream’s exceptionally creamy texture. “Once you’ve tried it, you’re hooked,” she said.

Razzles offers a variety of unique Perry’s flavors, such as Mint-Ting-A-Ling, Kahlua Almond Amaretto, and Fool’s Gold, a mix of peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter candy swirls.

Roxanne grew up around the restaurant business. In the 1930’s, her father, Ted Atanasoff, ran Hummelstown’s original Chatterbox Café with his brothers, Alex and Sam, at the present site of Hoss’s Steak and Sea House. The Chatterbox’s name was later changed to Town and Country, which closed in the late 1980’s.
Steve said he hopes eventually to offer some of the café’s lighter fare to Razzles’ customers on Friday nights, calling it “Chatterbox-2-Go”.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 29 October 2008 19:51)