Known for its wild flavors like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Hidden Valley Ranch, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will soon open its first San Diego scoop shop.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a New York City-based brand known for its high-quality, custard-style ice cream, is opening its first San Diego location within Westfield UTC mall in La Jolla. Positioned near popular spots like the Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar and Ramen Nagi, this new outpost is set to open in November, adding to the mall's growing list of dessert destinations, which already includes other well-known names such as Salt & Straw and Somi Somi.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream began in 2008 as a humble ice cream truck founded by brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen, along with Laura O’Neill. The trio quickly gained popularity in Brooklyn with their commitment to creating rich, flavorful ice cream using quality ingredients. The company has expanded significantly since its inception, now operating multiple scoop shops and supplying pints to grocery stores nationwide. Known for its unique and luxurious flavors like honeycomb, Earl Grey tea, and Sicilian pistachio, Van Leeuwen also offers a range of dairy-free options to cater to various dietary needs.
The opening of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream at Westfield UTC marks the brand's first venture into the San Diego market, continuing its expansion throughout California, where it already has a strong presence in the Los Angeles area. This addition brings more variety to the shopping center's dessert offerings and is likely to attract ice cream lovers eager to experience Van Leeuwen's renowned and unconventional flavors, ranging from pizza flavored ice cream to Grey Poupon with salted pretzels.
Also joining the lineup of new tenants at Westfield UTC are Katsuya Ko, a new branch of the Los Angeles sushi chain, and L55 Tacos & More, an offshoot of the Michelin-recognized Lola 55. Another new addition, MeloMelo, a Southern California-based dessert shop specializing in coconut jelly, will open near Sugarfina and Shake Shack in October, further diversifying the mall's dining options.
For more information about Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, visit vanleeuwenicecream.com.
