Cindy's Soft Serve makes leap to year-round, full restaurant in Tarentum

After three years in a small walk-up location on First Avenue, Cindy’s Soft Serve, Custard & More has a new home and a new name in Tarentum.

Cindy and Bob Hatajik of Harrison moved the ice cream stand they opened in 2018 — now called Cindy’s Soft Serve & Hometown Food — into the building that was formerly home to Hometown Restaurant on Fourth Avenue. They opened Tuesday after working two months to get the space ready.

It’s grown from being primarily an ice cream stand that sold some food to a full restaurant with a breakfast menu.

“It’s all new,” Cindy Hatajik said. “It’s an all-new adventure.”

Hometown had been in the building owned by Kevin Bertocki for 25 years. Restaurant owner Rebecca Coy in August said the covid-19 pandemic and public health restrictions caused her to close, but the Hatajiks didn’t see it as an obstacle to moving there.

“We’re not afraid to take a risk,” Bob Hatajik said.

A walk-up location might sound ideal when interior seating is restricted, but Cindy Hatajik said it wasn’t much of an advantage because their seasonal business “was really dependent on the weather.”

“The place was just too small over there,” she said. “We wanted something more permanent.”

Cindy Hatajik said she contacted Bertocki after seeing a “For Rent” sign in the Hometown window. Bertocki, who has owned the building for 16 years, said he had a lot of calls from restaurants wanting to move into the space, and he chose the Hatajiks because they are local and active in the community.

“I heard good things about them,” he said.

Cindy Hatajik said Bertocki worked with them on renovating the space, which included repainting and redoing the floors. They’ve brightened up the restaurant, which features bright colors including pink, purple and yellow and LED lights.

“It was very dark,” she said. “We wanted something happy.”

Open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Cindy’s will serve breakfast, lunch and one dinner special daily. There will be ice cream, homemade pies and soups.

The breakfast menu includes eggs, four-egg omelettes, pancakes and French toast. The lunch menu includes salads, burgers, sandwiches, hoagies, pizza and hot dogs.

An indoor party room will be available to rent for events such as birthdays. The Hatajiks plan to have outdoor seating in the future and will continue showing movies.

Previously running Cindy’s themselves with the help of their son, Cody Lee, the Hatajiks have hired 10 employees, including waitstaff, cooks and dishwashers.

Cindy Hatajik said they will participate in the two remaining Tarentum Night Markets this year, scheduled for Nov. 19 and Dec. 10. On those nights, participating Tarentum businesses stay open until 8 p.m.

Cindy Hatajik said her family hopes their restaurant will be an asset to Tarentum.

“We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears in here, and we’re ready to make a go of it,” she said. “I’m trusting in God that we’ll make it.”