NEW PHILADELPHIA – Miller's Creamery is opening a year-round location in New Philadelphia featuring a drive-thru window and a dining room.

The company has purchased the former Arby's restaurant at 2337 E. High Ave., and will begin renovating the building. The plan is to have the location open by spring.

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For the past 19 years, Miller's Creamery has been operating out of a trailer on East High Avenue next to Harry Clever Field. It is open seasonally.

"We outgrew the trailer, possibly 10 years ago," said owner Gladys Miller. "We're so busy there. It does run a good business. The only storage we have is a little barn there. We don't have walk-in freezers and coolers, and we really, really need that."

The Arby's building needs a lot of work, she said. The company will install a new furnace and air conditioning, as well as a walk-in freezer and cooler. The sunroom at the front of the building will be torn off. Plans call for the installation of a patio to replace the sunroom.

Miller anticipates that the new location will do good business.

"We were scared to make the change, very scared to make the change," she said. "We didn't know what our customers would do or think. I know a lot of people like the setting there close by the airport. It is nice, but we have not had one negative response. Everybody's very, very excited. We cannot even go out and about without customers saying something about it."

Mayor Joel Day highlighted the decision in his mayor's report at Monday's city council meeting.

"Thank you, Miller's Creamery, for growing your business in New Philadelphia," he said.

The last day for the current New Philadelphia location is Oct. 1.

Miller's Creamery will continue to operate its Dover location at 211 W. Third St. It also has a wholesale location to distribute its products to retailers around the area. Its caramel corn is sold at many stores. Normally, the company makes 200 pounds of caramel corn each day, but during the past two weeks it has been making 400 pounds, based on orders. Its sherbet is also sold locally, including at the Dover and New Philadelphia Buehler's stores.

The company first announced the news on Facebook last weekend. The announcement was shared more than 1,300 times by area residents.

"They are really excited, and that makes us happy and feel good. We feel like we made the right choice," Miller said.