Canberra institution Goodberry's to open next week in Franklin

Canberra institution Goodberry’s is opening its third store in Franklin this week. The frozen custard stores have been a favourite of Canberrans since 1998, when they opened in Erindale, followed by Belconnen a few years later. The current co-owners, cousins Chris Maley and Caitlyn Lancaster, bought the business in 2003.

“We’d been looking for another location, and Gungahlin was top of our list,” Caitlyn Lancaster told Region.

“We’ve actually been waiting for the right opportunity for about eight years.”

They’ve taken over a space that was previously operated by a different franchise, selling a similar product so it was perfectly suited to their needs.

While Belconnen and Erindale have a retro diner aesthetic, the Franklin store has a new look.

“This shop has a more modern look, it’s more digital. But it’s still the same menu and the same Goodberry’s that people love.”

So you can still get your concrete with your favourite mix-in flavours, sundaes, hot dogs, nachos and more!

Canberrans might be surprised to know that there’s only one other city in the world where you can get Goodberry’s Frozen Custard: Raleigh, North Carolina! The original owner visited Raleigh on a work trip in the 90s and was so taken with the shop that he got the rights to use the brand in Canberra.

Both the Raleigh and Canberra businesses are family-owned and run. The Canberra owners currently only have permission to use the name within the ACT but would be open to expanding around the country in the future.

But what makes frozen custard different from soft serve? Chris Maley laid out the science.

“Frozen custard is a much denser product. We churn it very slowly at a lower temperature so it’s much less aerated than other products like soft serve, which is mostly air. When you eat soft serve it just disappears in your mouth, whereas frozen custard lingers.”

Goodberry’s doesn’t use any artificial stabilisers, and their ingredient list is pretty simple: milk, cream, egg, pure cane sugar and honey. That recipe hasn’t changed since they opened.

Chris and Caitlyn are proud to have been part of the Canberra community for so long. Chris says they often see their old staff members popping back in for a concrete or sundae with their kids and even grandkids! They currently employ over 50 staff members, with that number likely to rise to over 75 now that Franklin is up and running.

“We’re so excited to be opening here. We hope it can be a really good community hub,” said Caitlyn.

Caitlyn’s favourite concrete mix-ins are marshmallow, salted caramel and dime bar. Chris prefers the biscoff sauce over the vanilla concrete base.

You might notice that the Goodberry’s staff no longer turn the concretes upside down when they serve them to you for one simple reason: “We’re far too busy!”

Goodberry’s Franklin is located at 127/3 Clare Burton Cres, Franklin.

The official opening will be held on Wednesday, 31 July. They will be open from 11 am to 10 pm seven days a week. Find out more on their website or follow Goodberry’s on Instagram.