UPDATE! Happy Place Homemade will open to the public with a Ribbon Cutting on Friday, January 23.
Medford native Tyler Gerber, 32, is betting on donuts, soft serve, and good coffee to create something his hometown has never had before: a true community hangout designed to spark joy and pride in his hometown.
His new venture, Happy Place Homemade is set to open this fall at 690 Stokes Road, transforming a former Bank of America branch into a colorful hub of scratch-made treats and nostalgia-driven fun.
For Gerber, the project is more than just a business—it’s personal. Born and raised in Medford, he spent his childhood searching for gathering spots that never quite existed. “Growing up, there weren’t a lot of places that made you want to hang out and keep coming back,” he said. That changed when he went off to study business at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. City life introduced him to new cuisines, global flavors, and the vibrant food culture he felt was lacking in his hometown.
“I became a bona fide foodie in Philly,” Gerber admitted. “I loved trying things I’d never had before. That excitement is what I wanted to bring back to Medford.”
A “Happy Place” for All
Happy Place Homemade aims to be just that—a landmark where donuts, soft serve, and coffee converge into something fresh, fun, and distinctly local. With both dine-in and a convenient drive-thru (a clever holdover from its banking days), the shop is designed to be as much a social space as it is a quick stop for morning coffee or evening dessert.
Gerber envisions it as a place that feels familiar yet exciting, describing the aesthetic as “new nostalgia.” Inside, the shop will feature diner-style booths for approximately 20 guests, as well as some outdoor seating with bistro tables, which will expand later. Bright, easy-to-read menus and whimsical branding will make customers smile before they even place an order.
“This isn’t just a special occasion place,” Gerber explained. “We want to brighten your day, every day.”
Donuts, Soft Serve, and More
The heart of Happy Place Homemade is its rotating lineup of scratch-made cake donuts, prepared fresh in front of customers by a custom donut machine – known in house as the “donut robot.” Guests can order single donuts, half-dozens, dozens, or even mini donuts. Inventive creations like the Donut Dandy (a donut-soft serve sandwich), Happy Stack (a serving of soft serve, a donut stacked in the center, another dollop of soft serve on top, finished with one topping and one drizzle.), and Perfects (one full serving of soft serve, topped with two toppings and one drizzle) will give Medford a menu unlike any other.
The flavors will change weekly, encouraging repeat visits. “We want people to wonder, ‘What flavors does Happy Place have today?’” Gerber said. While customer favorites will return regularly, keeping the menu options fresh is a priority.
On the soft-serve side, Gerber and his team are raising the bar. With six machines running, chocolate and Madagascar vanilla will be staples, and complemented by rotating special flavors. For the non-dairy crowd, options include Pineapple Dole Whip and dairy-free vanilla. Unlike typical airy soft serve, Gerber’s version will be denser, creamier, and full of flavor. “You’ll see your teeth marks in it,” he joked.
Whimsical milkshakes topped with mini donuts will feature soft serve.
For caffeine lovers, Happy Place Homemade has partnered with La Colombe to offer a variety of coffee options, including hot drip coffee and cold brew on tap. But in true Gerber fashion, even the coffee gets a creative twist: exclusive “flavor additions” made in-house will bring new depth to both hot and iced drinks.
Iced tea- and lemonade-based refreshers, also featuring seasonal flavors, will provide a lighter option. Some will transform into float-style drinks with a swirl of soft serve.
Building a Landmark in Medford
For Gerber, the ultimate goal is to make Happy Place Homemade a true Medford staple—something residents talk about when they describe their town to others. But also, for visitors to be familiar with and seek to visit often. He recently bought a home in downtown Medford and says he now sees the same growth and energy in the community that he felt in Philadelphia years ago. There is an undercurrent of progress and a lot more activity happening in the small Burlington County town.
“I want Happy Place to be part of that progression,” he said. “A place that offers something different, that you can’t find anywhere else.”
With planned opening around the end of October or early November, Happy Place Homemade will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing only on Tuesdays. The shop will employ 10 to 12 team members and eventually roll out branded merchandise so people can take Happy Place home.
From fresh donuts and coffee in the morning to soft serve and refreshers in the evening, Gerber hopes his “Happy Place” will give Medford a daily dose of comfort, community, and a reason to smile.
Follow Happy Place Homemade on Instagram for live updates, future Grand Opening announcements and previews to come.
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