Beloved Ice Cream Chain Jeni’s Opens in Austin

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, the popular Ohio-based ice cream chain, opened its very first Texas ice cream shop ever. Even better: Austin got not one, but two locations: the first up in Rock Rose in the Domain Northside on 11601 Rock Rose Avenue, Suite 110, now open as of Sunday, November 24, 2019. The second, considered its Austin flagship, is now open in South Austin on 1208 South Congress Avenue as of today, Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Like the other locations, the Austin shops sells scoops and to-go pints of its fanciful ice creams, in flavors like salty caramel, brambleberry crisp, frosé sorbet, and dairy-free Texas sheet cake, among others. There’s an Austin-only flavor too: the banana cream pudding, which is dairy-free. There are also waffle and cake cones, as well as ice cream flights which are served with a waffle wedge. Sundaes are no longer available.

Jeni’s South Congress shop took over what had been local art and jewelry business Turquoise Door, which closed last fall. It’s also worth noting that popular Austin-based frozen sweets shop Amy’s Ice Cream has an often-packed location found across the street, and California-based chain Gelato Paradiso just opened last month just down the street. There’s one more forthcoming ice cream spot: Austin’s gelato and amaro spot Gelateria Gemelli.

The South Congress shop’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and then 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Jeni’s Rock Rose location is found where boutique Raven and Lily’s only Austin location was, which closed earlier this year. The Rock Rose shop hours are from noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Owner Jeni Britton Bauer started Jeni’s in 2002, expanded its distribution reach across the country, as well as opening numerous ice cream shops in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and others. She won a James Beard Award for the shop’s cookbook, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home, in 2012.

Bauer noted to Eater that the company sold and shipped its first order to Austin 13 years ago and that Royal Blue Grocery was its first Austin retail partner. It’s also available at other Texas retailers, but the company’s only other appearances in the state had been during South by Southwest as part of the festival’s now-defunct official food truck park SouthBites.

September 6, 2019, 3:06 p.m.: This article has been updated to clarify the menu of the Austin locations.

November 26, 2019, 1:16 p.m.: This article has been updated to include the opening status of Jeni’s Rock Rose location.

February 25, 2020, 8:40 a.m.: This article has been updated to include the opening status of Jeni’s South Congress location.

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