When Anahi Pineda and Sergio Leyva first considered a career change, owning a milkshake shop wasn't on their list. But they knew they wanted to open something in Stone Oak that would bring people joy and give them something fun to do. And as Anahi said to me, “What’s more fun than milkshakes?”
In 1914, Charlie and Orania Sarandou immigrated from Greece and opened a shop specializing in chocolates made from their family recipes. In the early 2000s, the fourth generation of their family coined the name MilkShake Factory and began incorporating milkshakes into the menu. MilkShake Factory began franchising in 2023. As Anahi and Sergio explored new career options after 20 years in insurance and financial services, their franchise consultant told them about MilkShake Factory. They weren’t initially interested in restaurants, but they knew they wanted to do something that made people happy. And Anahi’s love of chocolate and ice cream made MilkShake Factory intriguing.
Anahi told me having MilkShake Factory in Stone Oak is important to them because they want to give back to the community they’ve been part of for the last two decades. They love the Stone Oak area because the people are kind and family-oriented. Now that they have two kids of their own, that feels more important to them than ever.
Anahi and Sergio work closely with General Manager Michael and Chef Lead Victor. They are proud to have built a team of local Stone Oak teens and young adults who work evenings and weekends. Anahi said it has brought her a lot of joy to provide new jobs in the Stone Oak area, and they are very proud of their employees.
MilkShake Factory opened on June 13. So far, the community response has been enthusiastic. Anahi told me that all kinds of people are coming in to enjoy milkshakes, from toddlers to teens to groups of seniors from a nearby retirement home. After just a few short months, they're getting to know their repeat customers. Some of them order a different milkshake every time, trying to work their way through the whole menu. One of her favorite moments is when they ask a customer if it’s their first time visiting, only to hear that they’ve been there before and have brought someone with them to experience it for the first time. Anahi takes that as a sign that they’re doing something right. “People arrive happy and leave even happier, and that’s what we want.”
Each milkshake is hand-spun to order. The ice cream in the milkshakes and the whipped cream on top are made fresh every day. Classic milkshakes like chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and a few other flavors are featured during their Thursday happy hour from 4-6 pm for $5. The Signature Shakes are known for their toppers. On the day I visited, I enjoyed Anahi’s favorite, the Campfire S’mores Shake, which is topped with a large chocolate- and graham-covered marshmallow. Their bestselling shake is the Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Shake, topped with a chocolate-covered strawberry, made fresh every day. The other large menu category is Gourmet Shakes, which focus on the inclusions, like pieces of fruit or brownies. Those are topped more simply with whipped cream and a piece of chocolate. MilkShake Factory also offers sundaes, a root beer float, and Molten Chocolate Cups, which include a choice of fresh fruits, whipped cream, and melted milk chocolate. A pumpkin spice milkshake is joining the menu this fall.
But it’s not just about the milkshakes. Chocolate bark is made in-house every day, following the same recipes Charlie and Orania Sarandou brought to America in 1914. Anahi told me, “Everything’s fresh, everything’s made to order, with love and care.” Every customer is offered a free sample. I got to try the delicious peanut butter toffee bark. Anahi told me roasted almond bark is popular, and kids like cookie bark topped with sprinkles and candy. Packaged chocolates are also available for purchase, and the barks can be wrapped for gifts.
Anahi said she wants MilkShake Factory to become a community celebration destination. They want to see families coming in to celebrate dance recitals, soccer games, and good report cards. “We want this place to be someone’s first date or the celebration spot. We want to be that for the community.” She also hopes people arrive expecting delicious milkshakes but also have a great time while they’re at MilkShake Factory. “We want them to experience great service from beginning to end. And I hope people can leave and go tell someone that they just had the best milkshake they’ve ever had.”
“People arrive happy and leave even happier, and that’s what we want.”