Last call is beckoning for several MetroWest ice cream, hot dog stands

The official start of fall is drawing near, which means seasonal businesses like ice cream parlors and hot dog stands will soon close up shop. 

Some have already closed for the season, including The Black Cow in Millis and George's Surf & Turf in Mendon. Others will either close next month, or remain open until the air outside becomes as chilly — or chillier — than freezers inside.  

Here are a few local businesses that are soon closing up for the season and when they plan to reopen — and as a bonus, any special fall flavors being offered between now and then.

JJ’s Ice Cream Shoppe 

167 Milford St. (Route 140), Upton 

This mom-and-pop ice cream shop will close early this year — Oct. 11 instead of Halloween — and will likely reopen sometime next March, said owner John Gorman. Its current hours are 3-9 p.m. Tuesday thorough Friday and noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Changes to the hours will be posted on the business' Facebook page. 

This year, the shop opened on March 20 — the first day of spring.  

Some fall ice cream flavors being offered between now and next month include cranberry harvest, pumpkin Oreo and apple crisp. The pumpkin Oreo flavor was rolled out this year and is the most popular of the three, said Gorman.  

More:LIST: Ice cream places around MetroWest and Milford

Miller Farm 

277 Main St. (Route 20), Northborough 

The ice cream stand at Miller Farm usually closes after Thanksgiving each year, but this year it will happen sometime in mid- to late October, according to Sylvia Gaskamp, an employee of the stand. The farm will reopen sometime in the spring, she said. This year, the shop opened in March.  

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Some fall flavors being sold from now until then include pumpkin, pumpkin Oreo and "Patriots Dough your Job" — which has been especially popular, said Gaskamp. Pints and quarts of ice cream are being sold. 

Current hours are 3-8 p.m. Monday though Friday and 1-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Any changes to hours will be posted on the business' Facebook page. 

Sandy’s Chill Spot 

800 Pulaski Blvd., Bellingham  

As in years past, this popular ice cream and seafood stand plans to close on Halloween and reopen on April 1, according to co-owner Nancy Pinheiro. 

Its current fall hours are noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Changes in the hours will be posted on its Facebook page. Some popular fall flavors being sold now include apple crisp and pumpkin, said Pinheiro.  

More:Metrowest and Milford ice cream shops discuss most popular and unique desserts

The stand is giving out free ice cream on Halloween this year from 2-8 p.m. while supplies last, she said. The shop used to do it annually, but the special wasn’t held last year due to the pandemic. Depending on the weather, Halloween can be really busy, she said.  

Murphy’s Eats and Treats  

16 West Union St. (Route 135), Ashland 

This ice cream and mini-golf spot is open until Halloween, with plans to reopen in March, according to a recent Facebook post made by owners Shaun and Eileen Keefe. 

Its current fall hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday with the grill closing at 7 p.m. After Halloween, the shop will close for a couple of weeks to prepare for its annual Christmas Extravaganza, which starts the day after Thanksgiving. Updated hours will be posted to the business' Facebook page. 

Some fall ice cream flavors being offered include apple crisp and pumpkin. 

Trombetta’s Farm 

655 Farm Road, Marlborough 

The ice cream stand at this mini-golf and garden center plans to sell ice cream until Halloween and will maintain its current hours for the rest of the season. After Halloween, ice cream will be sold on weekends until winter.  

Seasonal flavors offered this fall include pumpkin, espresso almond chip and banana. Pints and quarts are also sold.  

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The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Updated hours will be posted to the business' Facebook page.

Uhlman's Ice Cream 

234 East Main St. (Route 30), Westborough 

This ice cream and hot dog stand is open through Halloween and reopens in March. Its current hours are 3-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Its ice cream truck is also open through October. Updated hours will be posted to its Facebook page.  

The shop will continue to serve all its flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt and floats, and is offering some fall flavors like Dutch apple and pumpkin Oreo. Pints, quarts and one-gallon flats are also sold.  

More:Screaming (without masks) for ice cream

Snappy Dogs

61 Main St. (Route 135), Hopkinton 

This gourmet hot dog stand located behind CVS will close in mid-December and reopen around May — weather depending, said Teresa Boyce, who owns the business with Lisa Volpe Hachey.  

It doesn’t plan to open when it’s snowing, she said. 

Photo Gallery:Snappy Dogs opening day in Hopkinton

The stand serves grilled Pearl hot dogs, chicken sausages, turkey dogs and veggie dogs on freshly baked rolls with relishes and sauces, along with some desserts like cookies and whoopie pies. For fall, some specials include pumpkin almond bread, said Boyce. 

The business is also now open four days a week — Thursday through Sunday — instead of six from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Updates on opening hours will be posted to its Facebook page. 

Mad Willie's Ice Cream

963 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham 

This ice cream shop only closes for one month (January), said owner Sunil Patel, which means the shop is open well into December and reopens in February.  

When the shop reopens will be conditional on the winter weather, he said. Customers can stay updated on business hours by checking its Facebook page. 

“We’ll continue as far as we can go,” he said.  

In October, its fall flavors — like pumpkin and apple crisp — will debut, he said. The shop is open every day from noon to 9 p.m. 

Eastleigh Farm 

1062 Edmands Road, Framingham  

This farm and its ice cream "Moo Bus" — a converted school bus with painted-on cow prints — will close to the public at the end of October and reopen in mid-May like usual, said manager Mary Walters. 

"When you see the cows back on the pasture, know that opening day is not far behind," she said. 

More:Eastleigh Farm in Framingham adds second ‘moo bus’

Its ice cream fall flavors include maple walnut, Dutch apple, pumpkin and s'mores, said Walters, with pumpkin and s'mores being the most popular. Pints and quarts are also sold.  

Current hours are 4-8 p.m. on Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Changes to business hours will be posted on its Facebook page. 

Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__.