VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM TO OPEN GREENWICH LOCATION IN OCTOBER

The New York–based brand is expanding into Connecticut with a Greenwich scoop shop, marking the debut of its first suburban location.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the nationally beloved brand known for its made-from-scratch dairy and vegan ice creams, will debut its first Connecticut location on October 1. Located on the iconic Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, the store is the brand’s first suburban scoop shop. The launch also marks a return to its roots for co-founders Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen who are Greenwich natives and whose ice cream journey began in town twenty years ago.

Ben and Pete became ice cream entrepreneurs back in 2002. The brothers rented a Good Humor truck and drove it all around Greenwich for two summers. With the money he made, Ben went backpacking around Asia and Europe and found himself most excited by the food he discovered and the revelation that good food was more accessible in other parts of the world. His travels inspired the idea for an ice cream truck serving good ice cream.  Not long after, Van Leeuwen was born in the form of a yellow scoop truck on the streets of NYC in 2008. Its French-style ice cream (made with more than double the amount of egg yolks as standard ice cream) quickly gained a loyal following, and Van Leeuwen has since expanded into storefronts in New York, California, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas, as well as grocery stores across the country, including Stop & Shop and Whole Foods. Van Leeuwen’s goal — to make good ice cream that makes you feel good — also extends to its dairy-free options, which are made with simple recipes and choice ingredients.

 The expansive menu features more than 30 signature flavors including Honeycomb, Pistachio (made with Pistachios sourced from Mount Etna in Sicily), Marionberry Cheesecake (made with vine-ripened berries from Oregon farm partner Stahlbush Island Farms), and Earl Grey Tea (made with Rishi Tea), in addition to custom sundaes, handmade ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, milkshakes and pints to-go. The company is also known for its extensive selection of vegan flavors made with oat and cashew milk, including Churros & Fudge and Strawberry Shortcake.

 “We are so excited to bring Van Leeuwen to our hometown,” said Ben Van Leeuwen, co-founder and CEO. “It’s really special that our first suburban location takes us full circle to the place where we first brought smiles to people’s faces through ice cream back in 2002 before the brand existed. We look forward to sharing good ice cream, made with good ingredients, with the community where we grew up.” 

 Known nationally for creative seasonal and limited-edition collaboration flavors such as Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and BIGFACE Coffee Affogato in partnership with NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, Van Leeuwen will also serve an exclusive limited-edition flavor at its Greenwich location. The brand has teamed up with local French bakery Raphaël’s to create a flavor inspired by their Canelé pastry – a brown sugar ice cream with vanilla and rum notes with pieces of Canelé from Raphaël’s. In addition, Van Leeuwen’s Fall seasonal specials,  Pumpkin Cheesecake and Dark Chocolate Vegan Pumpkin Pie, will be available until December 1. 

 Opening day hours on October 1 are 12pm-11pm. In celebration of the launch, the shop will offer $1 scoops of all ice cream on opening day from 12pm-4pm. 

 Van Leeuwen’s Greenwich scoop shop is located at 375 Greenwich Avenue and will be open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Guests can enjoy their treats at the scoop shop or order pints for takeout or delivery. 

 ABOUT VAN LEEUWEN ICE CREAM Founded in 2008, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream started out of a yellow scoop truck on the streets of NYC by Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill. With a mission to make good ice cream from good ingredients that makes you feel good, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has innovated beyond the original dairy recipe with vegan ice cream and ice cream bars, unique and eclectic flavors, and more. With 33 scoop shops across the country, Van Leeuwen ice cream is also available for purchase in grocery stores and nationwide shipping. To keep up with everything Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, follow the brand on Instagram @vanleeuwenicecream or visit www.vanleeuwenicecream.com.