The wildly popular Van Leeuwen Ice Cream brand will open a brick-and-mortar store in Long Beach at 2ND & PCH, with grand opening festivities set for Thursday, June 29.
The shop started from humble food truck beginnings in New York, but it was at the forefront of the artisanal ice cream boom, which launched the company into a nationally recognized brand.
The grand opening will offer $1 scoops from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., a free tote bag for the first 50 guests and exclusive merchandise. Pete Van Leeuwen, who co-founded the company with his brother Ben Leeuwen and with Laura O’Neill, will also be at the opening.
Long Beach’s store will be only one of nine Van Leeuwen brick-and-mortar shops in California, the rest being around L.A. It will replace Ample Hills Creamery, which closed earlier this year.
The brand also has a food truck in L.A., which is generally on Abbot Kinney most weekends. And of course, the company’s monochromatic packaging makes them easy to spot at local grocery chains like Whole Foods and Sprouts, where pints are sold.
The brand made a name for itself with its French ice cream crowd-favorite flavors like marionberry cheesecake and BIGFACE coffee affogato (note: Van Leeuwen ice cream uses twice as many eggs as standard ice cream, meaning, according to the FDA, they have to call it French ice Ccream). The company’s vegan ice cream has also become popular for a dairy-free alternative.
The store will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and grand opening hours will be from noon to 11 p.m.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will be at located at 6400 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 140.
