Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Opens in Greenwich

Hey, Greenwich! Here’s a scoop for you!

The popular ice cream brand, Van Leeuwen, whose humble beginnings were as an ice cream truck in New York City, has just opened a scoop shop on Greenwich Avenue.

Owned by brothers and Greenwich natives Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen, who, if we’re really getting technical about their ice cream origin story, actually started in their hometown as the two rented a Good Humor truck to drive around and sell ice cream in for two summers beginning in 2002. And they’re both pretty stoked to not only be back in Greenwich, but to have opened their first suburban storefront.

Pete (left) and Ben Van Leeuwen

“It’s a trip to have started selling ice cream off a Good Humor truck when I was 18 years old,” Ben says. “Almost 20 years later to the day we’re opening a store on Greenwich Avenue.”

Of the 30 flavors of creamy French style ice cream that include Honeycomb, Pistachio, Earl Grey Tea, and plenty of vegan options, one of the 30 will be a local collaboration with Raphaël's Bakery that highlights the bakery’s signature canelé bits swirled into Van Leeuwen’s brown sugar ice cream with vanilla and rum.

For those unfamiliar, Van Leeuwen’s ice cream uses more cream and more egg yolks, much like the texture of a custard. “We use more of that than any other brand that we know of,” Ben explains. “If you’re gonna do it, do it awesome. We have a position on health ice cream that we’re anti healthy ice cream. If it makes you feel good, it’s good for you, it’s good for your soul.”

Ice cream junkies can also expect floats, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, shakes, and pints to-go.

Caught Tiffany Tu, aka _foodiewithabooty enjoying a waffle cone with Earl Grey and Raspberry Layer Cake ice creams

Van Leeuwen’s official opening date is October 1 from noon until 11 p.m. and you’ll want to line up for $1 scoops on that day only from 12 – 4.

Soon after Greenwich’s scoop shop, Van Leeuwen will open another in Darien in Darien Commons in January or February in 2023 if there are no delays where they’ll continue spreading their mantra of “a life without anything good is bad.”

375 Greenwich Avenue; Greenwich
vanleeuwenicecream.com