Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Landing in Westfield UTC

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, the New York City-based ice cream shop with sites across the country, is getting ready to open a new location in La Jolla at 4545 La Jolla Village Dr.

The company’s new location is the latest tenant announced for Westfield UTC, according to the company’s website and first mentioned by the Times of San Diego. The new Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will open in November 2024, near the Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar and Ramen Nagi. Customers can expect a variety of delicious flavors of custardy French ice cream, plus dairy-free options. Before this, California’s only Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shops were in the Los Angeles area.

This is a massive accomplishment for the founders, brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neill, who launched the company as a street-roving ice cream truck in 2008. Since then, the business has expanded throughout the country, with locations in at least nine states, with plenty more coming soon. Its home state has the most locations, with 30 locations and three more opening soon. Other cities that will soon get a new Van Leeuwen Ice Cream include Santa Monica, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston, and more. The company is also working on entering Florida for the first time with four new locations.

For Westfield UTC, this is one of two new tenants to be announced for the shopping center. Also opening later this year is a new location of Melo Melo, a coconut-focused dessert shop. Expected to open in October, the new location will sit near Sugarfina and Shake Shack. Other businesses making their UTC debut later this year include POP MART, a toy company; UNIQLO, a Japanese clothing store focused on Lifewear; BYLT Premium Basics, a clothing store for the “go-getter;” and Faherty, a beach-inspired apparel store.