On May 7, Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will open its first store in Dallas, just in time for summer. Until now, Dallas residents could only find the luxury ice cream brand in the freezer section at their local grocery stores.
Co-founded by Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neil, the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Company started with a single ice cream truck in 2008. The company has since expanded, offering its chilled treats in grocery stores across the U.S. and setting up Scoop Shops in five states, with more locations to come in the near future.
The company’s mission is to “make good ice cream that makes you feel good,” using quality ingredients and simple recipes.
“If you can’t pronounce it, you probably can’t digest it,” its website claims. There are no diglycerides or guar gum found in their products.
The company offers thirty flavors and counting, including vegan ice cream options made from cashew and oat milk. The Scoop Shops also sell coffee, vegan chocolate chip cookies, sundaes, and milkshakes.
To celebrate the opening of its Dallas location, Van Leeuwen partnered with female-owned Ego Tequila of Fort Worth to create a new ice cream flavor with local flair — the Strawberry Margarita. Van Leeuwen’s will debut the new flavor at the Scoop Shop grand opening.
“Dallas has been on our radar for quite some time, and we’re thrilled that we’re about to officially be a part of this iconic Texas city,” said Ben Van Leeuwen, co-founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen, in a press release. “We spent a lot of time identifying where we wanted to expand to, and Dallas was at the top of our list because of its friendly, food-focused, and diverse community.”
The new Dallas storefront at 3699 McKinney Avenue will be a sweet addition to the food-friendly atmosphere of the West Village area. The grand opening of the Dallas Van Leeuwen’s “Scoop Shop” takes place on Monday, May 7, from noon until 11:00 p.m.
In addition to offering $1 scoops of ice cream for all customers, Van Leeuwen’s is giving away free merchandise for its first 100 customers during the grand opening event.
