The scoop
North Austin surprisingly scoops first local shop of splendid ice cream brand
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Late fall may not seem like the most auspicious time to open an ice cream shop, but one cult brand is banking on Austin’s temperate weather for its first local shop. An employee confirms that Columbus, Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams quietly debuted November 24 at 11601 Rock Rose Ave., Ste.110 in the Domain Northside.
The North Austin Jeni’s carries a wide variety of scoops in cones, flights, and pints. The creative flavors include brown butter almond brittle, Texas sheet cake, sweet potato with torched marshmallow, and goat cheese with red cherries.
The Domain Northside shop takes over Raven + Lily, a retail shop that closed in early January. Though it uses a similar white palette to the former boutique, the space has been redone with penny tile and minimalist contemporary lighting fixtures.
Though its pints are available at grocery stores ranging from Central Market to Royal Blue, Jeni’s only retail outlet in Austin was a pop-up trailer as part of SXSWs bygone SouthBites food truck park. Another location will settle at 1207 S. Congress Ave. sometime this winter.
The South Congress shop is meant to be the Austin flagship, according to the company’s initial announcement. It too will be located in a former retail store — the space vacated by The Turquoise Door in summer 2018.
Since it was founded by Jeni Britton Bauer in 2002, the brand has rapidly developed, with a bestselling cookbook, retail offerings, and locations in eight states and Washington, D.C. A Houston location is on the way sometime this winter.
The Domain Northside Jeni’s is now open seven days a week in the busy North Austin development. Hours are noon-11 pm, Monday through Thursday; Friday, noon-midnight; Saturday, 11 am-midnight; and Sunday 11 am-11 pm.