284 New Brunswick Ave., Perth Amboy

PERTH AMBOY – Perth Amboy Carvel Franchise Owners Richard and Rosa Stakovsky have made their name in the Carvel Franchise. 

Richard was born in Brooklyn, NY. He began working when he was 15 years old at his father’s factory that manufactured pocketbooks in Brooklyn. At the time, he also worked at a Carvel in West New York and another ice cream store. At age 17, he became a manager at a Carvel in Staten Island. The owner would drive him between the two Carvel locations.

After the pocketbook factory closed, at the age of 19, Richie convinced his parents to buy and operate their own Carvel Franchise in Staten Island. They all worked there together. “I learned to be a successful businessman from two mentors: my father and another businessman who often told me to “Walk around the counter. If something is not right – fix it.” 

Richie then opened a Carvel in Howard Beach, Queens. Stakovsky later moved and opened up a Carvel in Brooklyn. “I owned and operated that Carvel (Brooklyn) for 40 years,” Stakovsky stated. 

Richie Stakvosky’s Carvel was awarded the Franchise of the Year Award for two years in a row. This award is one of many honors Stakvosky’s Carvels have won. His Carvel had the highest volume of cake sales in the Carvel Franchise (at the time over 500 stores) and third in sales in the whole Franchise System. “Presently, there are around 270 Carvel Stores, and more are opening,” Richie stated. He also mentors people who are interested in the Carvel Franchise Business. From 2010 to 2012 Skakovsky owned and operated the Perth Amboy location. After a brief hiatus, Richie and his wife, Rosa are now back and have reopened the Perth Amboy location as of April 2018.

Rosa Skakovsky was born and raised in Newark, NJ. Rosa was working in the bank next door to Carvel in Staten Island when she met Richie. She then moved to Staten Island in 1997. She learned everything in the ice cream business from him: “”The School of Richie.” That’s where I learned how to whip up a cake. I then took it to a whole new level.”

The couple’s skill in the ice cream business is unprecedented. Rosa’s ice cream cakes are of such quality that she has made and decorated cakes that have appeared in Carvel Commercials. Her skills are sought out by Bakers who hire Rosa as a consultant. 

Both agree Carvel has excellent products. Most employees attend, “Carvel College” to learn how to make the Carvel cakes.” Because Rosa was so skilled in the business, it was not necessary for her to attend. Richie and Rosa make their own flavors of ice cream. Because of their expertise, the couple are allowed leniency on what flavors are sold in the store. Most Carvel Franchise stores do not allow this. 

The Carvel in Perth Amboy has 24 flavors of hard ice cream and 4 flavors of soft ice cream. Richie’s favorite: cherry vanilla; Rosa’s favorite: strawberry. The bestselling ice cream flavor in Perth Amboy: strawberry and vanilla; the bestselling product: sundae dashers. 

Stakovsky’s Carvels have donated to the Leukemia Foundation every year for over 40 years. He has also donated to help the homeless and other charities as well. 

Rosa speaks of the ice cream business, “I love making people happy. If there’s a birthday or a special occasion, we’re a part of that.”