ST. LOUIS – While the St. Louis region is still in the thick of winter, Ted Drewes has officially reopened for its 96^th season of frozen custard.

“This is our time of the year. This is when we open up, and we’re really excited,” owner Travis Dillon said.

Improvements to the iconic establishment have been in the works since closing for the winter. The City of St. Louis continues making these safety improvements to the busy section of Chippewa Street.

Over the coming weeks, visitors will notice added bump-out curb extensions, concrete traffic barriers, a crosswalk, new lighting, and a Real Time Crime Center camera at the location. The custard shop’s east parking lot entrance will also be relocated.

“Another key issue is that our entrance, which has been here now since 1941, the entrance on our east side, is moved east toward our gift shop over here. That’s another good safety precaution,” Dillon added.

New safety measures follow the latest incident that occurred just before Christmas when 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi crashed through metal barriers, hitting five people, and striking a sixth person when he backed up and drove away.

Ted Drewes opened Thursday morning at 11 a.m. with customers lined up, ready to place their orders.

“We are so proud and so blessed that all our customers come on a busy day no matter what the temperature is; that is why we try really hard. It doesn’t matter what the temperature is and the season? And we are ready,” Dillon said.