The first official week of summer calls for some ice cream! There are plenty all around Boston, but a particularly delicious (and new) destination, Van Leeuwen, is expanding across the city. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream ventured to Massachusetts in April 2024, beginning with their Chestnut Hill location last year. Then, the store opened locations in Seaport, Harvard Square, and Wellesley. Two new locations opened in Boston this month: Back Bay and Fenway, which opened on June 18 and June 20, respectively.

Originating in New York City, brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen along with their partner Laura O’Neill, began the shop with an ice cream truck in 2008. The goal of the business was, and still is, to serve quality ice cream with quality ingredients. There’s something for everyone, serving quality vegan and gluten free flavors along with their regular ice cream. In addition, plenty of toppings are offered along with milkshakes in-store, and pints, ice cream sandwiches, and ice pops are served at grocery stores.

Their flavors are unique, including dulce de leche brownie, buttermilk berry cornbread, brown sugar cookie dough brownie, and hazelnut fudge cookie. Some of their vegan flavors, made of cashew and oat, include cookies & cream caramel swirl, peanut butter brownie honeycomb, and chocolate cookie dough honeycomb. You can always count on ice cream filled with joy in every bite, along with unique flavor combinations that you can’t get anywhere else.

Van Leeuwen lives by five mission statements: “Good then, good now, good always,” “good knows simple is everything,” “good ice cream is for everyone,” “good is as good does,” and “good is a state of mind.” Each store has posters with humorous quotes on them such as “good for you, probably.” Their humor is what makes them recognizable, and draws people in.

Van Leeuwen has five locations, and plenty more all over the country. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a sweet treat! If you’re in the Back Bay and Fenway areas, you should go check out your local Van Leeuwens soon!