Van Leeuwen Ice Cream To Open Park Slope Outpost Next Week

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is opening another NYC outpost next week — this time in Park Slope.

The cult-favorite creamery, best known for its wacky made-from-scratch flavors (dairy and vegan alike), will open on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Second Street on March 10, the brand announced.

"Park Slope is very near and dear to us because, for many years, we used to park our scoop truck on Fifth Avenue," said Van Leeuwen co-founder Laura O'Neill, alluding to the ice cream shop's earlier years, before it had citywide outposts.

In 2010, Van Leeuwen opened its first location in Greenpoint. During the past decade, the shop has opened 27 other locations, including 17 outposts in NYC and others across the country — from New Jersey to California.

The Park Slope shop, which will be the creamery's fifth in Brooklyn, marks a homecoming of sorts, said co-founder and CEO Ben Van Leeuwen.

"We’ve spent the last two years expanding Van Leeuwen into new cities like Philadelphia and Houston, but we’re ready to come back and give Brooklyn some more love," he said.

The newest location will have the shop's usual array of flavors (from French-style dairy ice creams like marionberry cheesecake to oat- and cashew-milk-based offerings like churros and fudge) plus an exclusive flavor to mark the new opening: espresso martini.

Inspired by the cultish drink, and made with Brooklyn-based Forthave Spirits and espresso from Café Integral, the flavor will only be served in Park Slope, while supplies last.

Sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, seasonal ice cream flavors, and milkshakes will also all be available at the Park Slope outpost.

The shop, located at 304 Fifth Avenue (at a once-bar-turned-print-shop), will be open from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Find out more about Van Leeuwen here.