Houston — New York-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is making its Texas debut at Rice Village in Houston. Van Leeuwen started as a New York City food truck in 2008 and has since grown to a crowd favorite, rapidly expanding to multiple brick-and-mortar stores along the East and West coasts. The cult favorite ice cream brand will open in 923 square feet of space in Rice Village in spring 2021.
“Rice Village is thrilled to welcome Van Leeuwen to its growing list of diverse eateries and shops,” says Morgan Lera, senior investment associate of Rice Management Company. “The Village has been such an integral part of the city for generations. I’m confident that Van Leeuwen will only add to the Rice Village experience to create many sweet memories for Houstonians.”
“We couldn’t be happier to be expanding to the Houston area. With its established ties, walkability, and bustling community, we knew Rice Village was perfect for our first venture into the Lone Star state,” says Ben Van Leeuwen, CEO and co-founder. “For over 12 years we’ve been committed to bringing our customers good ice cream that makes you feel good, and we can’t wait to serve Rice Village, come spring.”
The Blue Ox Group represented Rice Village. Dochtner & Alexander Retail Advisors and The Retail Connection represented the tenant, Van Leeuwen.
A bustling, historic haven in the heart of Houston — tucked between oak-lined avenues, the Texas Medical Center and Rice University — Rice Village is undergoing a landmark transformation that will sustain its treasured status for years to come. Since 1938, the iconic district has grown in acreage and appeal. What was once a small collection of barber and deli shops, mom-and-pops and quirky variety stores is now a lively spot with upscale eateries, design boutiques and trusted brands.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream was started out of a yellow scoop truck on the streets of New York City in 2008 by Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill. Since 2008, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has innovated beyond the original dairy recipe and added cashew-milk vegan ice cream and oat-milk vegan ice cream to the lineup. The concept has grown to 22 scoop shops in New York City and Los Angeles, grocery stores across the country, and available to order for nationwide shipping from its website.
SOURCE: Rice Village / Van Leeuwen Ice Cream