Mimi’s Handmade is now chilling at the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

The ice cream maker quietly opened its newest shop at 2985 District Avenue, Suite 160, about a month ago, owner Rollin Amore told FFXnow yesterday (Wednesday).

“So far, we’ve been very well received, and I’m pretty pleased about that,” Amore said, noting that the business also recently expanded to Rockville, Maryland.

Started in Pentagon City in December 2021, Mimi’s is named after Amore’s youngest daughter and builds on gelato and sweets recipes passed down by his grandmothers. All of the ice cream is made in-house, and there are 32 flavors available at a time, many of them unusual.

While most flavors are the same at each location, there’s some variation between neighborhoods. For example, wasabi peas didn’t gain much traction in Arlington, but it has emerged as a favorite at the Merrifield store, whose customers tend to be “very discerning on quality,” Amore says.

“If you have a lot of children, the flavor selection will be a lot different than if you have Gen Xers or you have an older crowd, so it’ll vary depending on the demographics,” he said. “…Chocolate, butterscotch, Oreo sell great in every community, but some of the more unique flavors, each community has its own characteristics.”

In addition to ice cream scoops, the menu offers sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches and hot drinks.

With foot traffic coming at a slower pace for the winter, Amore anticipates waiting for spring to schedule a grand opening event, which would be similar timing to the original Arlington store’s launch. The shop in Merrifield is open from noon to 9 p.m. on Mon through Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Also found in Chevy Chase’s The Heights food hall, Mimi’s has a fifth location in the works at Pinecrest Plaza in Lincolnia. Amore says the team hopes to open that shop in the summer.

Coming in the new year to the Mosaic District will be the Beaufort Bonnet Company, a children’s clothing store that says it expects to open in late February or early March. In addition, the Asian street food chain Hawkers will take over the former Four Sisters restaurant, but an opening time frame hasn’t been confirmed.

For months, Moo Thru has been selling its handmade, locally-sourced ice cream from a truck in Herndon.

The family-owned business is now expecting to open up its planned brick-and-mortar location sometime in January at 317 Spring Street, according to franchise owner Caitlin Kenney.

“We will have a soft opening for our friends, family and most frequent customers from the truck over the summer to help make sure our staff is fully trained and ready to open with only the best service,” Kenney said.

She said the opening was delayed due to hiccups in the permitting process. The shop previously hoped to open this summer, shortly after Moo Thru’s truck launched at the Reston-Herndon Business Park in June.

Owned by fourth-generation dairy farmers Ken and Pam Smith, Moo Thru makes its ice cream with milk from the family’s grass-fed Holstein herd, which grazes on a farm along the banks of the Rappahannok River.

Items on the menu include ice cream, shakes, malts and sundaes. The business currently has locations in Mineral, Charlottesville, Hillsboro and Winchester.

The ice cream parlor will open up alongside Old Town Coffee, a new coffee shop. The owners plan to offer locally-sourced, organic coffee and other items.

“We have tasted hundreds of coffees and have finally landed on 2 companies we feel we can 100% stand behind,” Kenney said. “The coffees and syrups are high quality and by far the tastiest we and our friends have ever had. We are going with organic beans and we will have a lot of organic flavoring syrups and organic milk products.”

Photo via Moo Thru Herndon/Instagram

(Updated at 10:10 a.m. on 11/16/2023) A new ice cream destination will be up and running in Reston just as temperatures begin to climb next spring.

Ice Cream Jubilee is set to open in April, according to the company’s chief marketing officer Laura O’Shaughnessy. That keeps it on track with previous projections of an “early 2024” opening.

The business will be located at 11990 Market Street, Unit D. (A typo in the address has been corrected.)

“We have been searching for potential real estate for additional Ice Cream Jubilee scoop shops and love the community in Reston Town Center,” O’Shaughnessy told FFXnow. “Being right next to the park is a wonderful location too.”

The company, which started in 2014, has two locations in the District and one in Arlington. Its classic flavors include matcha green tea, banana bourbon caramel, cookies and cookie dough, and passionfruit guava sorbet. Other flavors like lemon bar, carrot cake, and extra virgin olive oil, are seasonal.

Permits for the Reston location are currently under review.

The ice cream shop joins Pitango Gelato and Ben & Jerry’s in the town center. Tatte Bakery & Cafe and the wine-centric restaurant Sixty Vines are slated to open soon.

Sixty Vines announced last week that its Reston location will open in December, but an exact date hasn’t been determined yet.

Photo via Ice Cream Jubilee/Facebook

It was love at first sight for Afsaneh and the 123-year-old building at 131 Church Street NW where she recently launched Café de Vienna.

Constructed in 1900, per Fairfax County property records, the quaint, two-story house atop a hill on Vienna’s historic Church Street was converted at some point into a commercial space. It was home to Money & King Funeral Home — the town’s oldest still-operating business — until the now-closed Guarantee Shoe Repair took over in 1990, according to The Connection.

Though she initially considered a property in Great Falls, Afsaneh knew as soon as she saw the building that it was the right setting to fulfill her dream of opening a cozy, small-town cafe, an alternative to the “industrial” ambiance found in chains like Starbucks.

“I want to have that warm feeling, but that starts from a building. The building has to have character or that old-fashioned look,” she said. “…Right away, I said this is it. I was envisioning to have a coffee shop in an old building, and that’s how it started. The building did it. It was the building’s fault!”

A 27-year resident of Reston, Afsaneh says she always wanted to start her own business, but knowing how risky that can be, it took years of working in the retail and food service industries before she decided she’d gained enough experience to make that leap.

After submitting paperwork for various permits from the county and town in April, Afsaneh and her business partner Reza Sadeghi gave Café de Vienna a soft opening on Sept. 21.

In addition to Nespresso coffee, the shop serves tea, bread and pastries baked daily, gourmet fruit pops, raw honey and 16 flavors of handmade ice cream, which comes from “a little company in Maryland” that doesn’t use any preservatives or additives, Afsaneh told FFXnow.

She says the customer experience and the quality of its food and drinks are the cafe’s top priorities, which to her, means supporting local businesses and providing freshly made, preservative-free products.

“I know it might be a little costlier, but it’s worth it. So, quality is important for the products I’m bringing,” Afsaneh said.

In the future, Café de Vienna plans to introduce paninis and other dishes for a “small” breakfast and lunch menu.

Though the space is relatively small, it can fit 16 indoor seats that are supplemented by a 12-seat outdoor patio and a gazebo with picnic tables at the rear of the building. Afsaneh says she also intends to add some benches inside.

The cafe currently opens from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Those hours and the day off on Mondays could change during the warmer spring and summer months, according to Afsaneh.

While noting that she still has “a tough road ahead,” she’s encouraged by the community’s response to Café de Vienna during its first month of operations.

“It’s been going great because of the people in Vienna,” Afsaneh said. “They were so supportive in the past one month, so [I’m] very grateful for that. So far, so good, and I hope it’s going to continue.”

Though the heat of summer is waning, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard hopes Franconia residents are still in the mood for some chilled desserts.

The Pennsylvania-based chain will hold a grand opening tomorrow (Thursday) for its new shop in Hayfield Shopping Center (7592 Telegraph Road), which is anchored by Planet Fitness and Goodwill.

Starting at 5 p.m., the first 50 people to line up for the event will receive coupons for a full year of free treats from that location. All customers will get slight discounts of $4 and $5, respectively, for a small Italian ice or a small gelati, which combines layers of Italian ice and frozen custard.

The grand opening will also feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m., with merchandise giveaways and photo opportunities with the company’s mascot, Ice Guy, lasting from 5-7 p.m.

Rita’s Franconia franchise is owned by Terrain and Toya Davis, Kingstowne residents who wanted to “bring positive energy and a family-friendly atmosphere to their own backyard,” according to a press release.

The Davises partnered with Rita’s for their first franchise after frequenting the business as customers. Rita’s also has locations in Fairfax, Vienna and Chantilly, but the opportunity to bring it closer to home proved enticing.

“We desired a business opportunity that fostered a culture of family, community, and fun,” Terrain and Toya Davis said in an emailed statement. “By opening a Rita’s Italian Ice & Custard we’ve achieved that goal. Our guests are families spending quality time together and creating memories. We are able to engage with and give back to our community.”

In addition to running the brick-and-mortar store, which introduced itself to the community with a soft opening in June, the franchisees plan to introduce a food truck that will support events throughout Northern Virginia.

“The endless ‘Thanks for opening!’ we receive from guests is a real testament that partnering with this unique business originated in Philly was a great decision!” the Davises said. “It truly feels amazing to spread a little joy with each treat we serve.”

Launched in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, in 1984, Rita’s Italian Ice began life on former firefighter Bob Tumolo’s front porch, according to its website. Named after its founder’s wife, the company has expanded with franchises in more than 30 states.

Operating year-round with outdoor seating for eight customers, the 1,300-square-foot Franconia shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, extending its hours to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Like at other locations, the Italian ice is made fresh on-site and rotates daily through over 75 flavors. The menu also includes frozen custard, gelati, thick concretes, milkshakes and frozen drinks.

Those who miss out on tomorrow’s giveaways will have another opportunity to get free Italian ice. The company has an annual tradition of offering free cups on the first day of spring, which will fall on March 19 in 2024.

A new gelato stall has arrived at Fair Oaks Mall, just in time to offer sweet relief during the final days of summer.

D’Ambrosio Gelato opened for business on Aug. 16. It’s located on the first floor outside the Apple store at 11750 Fair Oaks Mall and sells both milk-based and vegan options as well as coffee.

Flavors include hazelnut, Italian coffee, strawberry, Italian organic chocolate, matcha green tea, and more.

This is the company’s first physical location in Virginia and only its second in the U.S., following a debut in Seattle back in 2010.

D’Ambrosio was concocted in Milan, Italy, by master chef Enzo Dambrosio, who began making gelato when he was 17. The business still utilizes ingredients made by the same dairy production facility that has been operating in Italy since 1957, per its website.

The company expanded its production line in 1974, adding other Italian desserts, coffee and beverages to its offerings. Its products can now be found in restaurants and hotels, along with its official shops.

D’Ambrosio has opened six locations worldwide now, including in Italy, France and Taiwan. Three stores are slated to open in Japan this year, according to its website.

Paul Kwon, who manages the Fair Oaks location, says the shop is planning to introduce more desserts in the coming weeks. On Monday (Aug. 28), they added panna gelato — warm, toasted bread filled with gelato — to the menu.

“We will introduce other desserts called cream fredda [a mousse-like coffee cream] and panna cotta in September,” he said.

A new ice cream parlor that caters to niche clientele is opening soon in Herndon.

Crème de la Crop, a vegan ice cream parlor, is set to open officially on Saturday (Sept. 9). It’s part of a shared commercial kitchen alongside Chiboo Bakery and Wined and Dined Catering at 273 Sunset Park Drive.

Olivia Green, the chef and owner, says she looks forward to the grand opening, which will take place alongside Chiboo Bakery — another woman-owned business.

“As a lactose intolerant pastry chef with a litany of allergies, I wanted to create a product I could finally eat, that tastes just like the real thing,” Green said in a statement. “Too many times I’ve seen places check off a box on a menu to appease a demographic, with little thought behind the food. People with dietary restrictions are an often-neglected population — and deserve to have delicious, thoughtful food (including dessert). And even though our ice cream is crafted for vegans and people with allergies, it’s meant for everyone! Seriously, dairy lovers find it indistinguishable from the real thing.”

The ice cream shop will offer a rotating selection of seasonal flavors like coconut key lime, grasshopper, and tahini caramel. The company also offers pre-orders for pickup several times a month.

A former Michelin star pastry chef, Green launched the business after working in bakeries and fine dining restaurants in D.C.

After launching a pop-up in April 2022, she decided to open up a storefront within a shared kitchen.

All of the shop’s ingredients are plant based and ice creams are made with gluten-free oat milk. All ice cream contains small amount of coconut milk or oil.

Pre-orders for Crème de la Crop will officially launch on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Retail hours are planned on select Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Centreville shoppers may have experienced a bit of déjà vu stepping into the recently opened Cafe Bdan at 13814 Braddock Road.

That’s because the new Korean-Japanese fusion dessert shop is a rebranding of fan-favorite Iron Ice, which closed down for six weeks before reopening as Cafe Bdan on Saturday, July 15, according to shop owner Charlie Shin.

Cafe Bdan is still currently in its soft opening period, offering what Shin says is approximately 85% of the full menu.

In honor of the recent opening, the cafe is giving out 10% off coupons to use at Cafe Bdan or either of Shin’s other two businesses in the Old Centreville Crossing shopping center — Japanese restaurant Kazone and women’s clothing store The Style by Coco.

Cafe Bdan’s predecessor Iron Ice was best known for its Instagram-worthy dessert commonly dubbed “puffle ice cream,” consisting of scoops of ice cream nestled in a Hong Kong egg waffle.

Though customers can still order puffle ice cream at Cafe Bdan, Shin spent the temporary closure devising an expanded menu that caters to “all four seasons,” rather than serving only one specialty item.

Shin says customers have called the refreshed menu’s croffle — a mix of a croissant and a waffle — “the best in town.” He takes care to use higher-end French croissants to elevate patron’s experiences.

Cafe Bdan’s bingsu, or Korean snow ice, topped with a special whipped cream has similarly been a smash hit amongst customers, according to Shin.

Shin also highlighted the cafe’s new bubble tea, which he says is brewed at his home and then brought into the store, taking over three hours to make.

“It’s really good,” Shin said. “It’s more than premium — it’s triple premium.” Read More

Another ice cream shop is coming to Reston Town Center.

Ice Cream Jubilee is slated to open its Reston in early 2024, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer Laura O’Shaughnessy tells FFXnow.

“Our customers have been asking us for years to expand and offer locally made delectable treats in more locations. We found this great location and are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve more customers our locally made ice cream and to be part of the Reston…community,” O’Shaughnessy said.

It will be located at the intersection of Market and Explorer streets, the same block as the new Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Food blog The Burn first reported the news.

The company, which has two locations in D.C. and one in Arlington, started in 2014. It’s known for atypical ice cream flavors like baklava, toasted s’mores and banana bourbon caramel.

The ice cream and gelato shops in Reston Town Center are Ben & Jerry’s, Pitango Gelato, and sweetgreen.

Photo via Ice Cream Jubilee/Facebook

An Arlington-based ice cream shop that brings together flavors from around the world is planting its flag in the Mosaic District to further an ambitious expansion plan.

Mimi’s Handmade will take up residence in the Merrifield neighborhood at 2985 District Avenue, Suite 160, replacing 520 Ice Cream and Tea after the cafe closed late last year.

Currently expected to open around mid-August to early September, the new store will closely resemble the original Mimi’s, which opened in Pentagon City in December 2021, owner Rollin Amore says.

“You’ve got to have consistency across the board, consistency in the quality of your ice cream, consistency in your offerings,” Amore told FFXnow. “I mean, I want to appeal to a broad base. I want to appeal across the age span from 8 months old to 80 years old.”

Mimi’s is a family affair, dedicated to Amore’s daughters — Mimi and Alexandra — and inspired by gelato, custard and sweets recipes passed down by his Italian and German grandmothers, according to the website.

Venturing into ice cream after retiring from a nearly 40-year career as a banker, Amore has developed a diverse assortment of over 40 flavors, from classic options like French vanilla and chocolate to bolder scoops like sweet corn or wasabi peas — one of several to incorporate ingredients he encountered while traveling in Asia.

Mimi’s has 32 flavors on display at any given time, all made in-house with “real” ingredients, not flavoring, Amore says. About 70 to 80% of them are fixtures, while others rotate based on the season or their creator’s inclinations.

“If I get inspired, I’ll try a new flavor,” Amore said. “As an example, a couple of weeks ago, I started making a red guava sherbet…It’s more summer. I’ve been making fresh watermelon and fresh cantaloupe, and I just pureed a few fruit and then add a little sugar and make a sorbet out of them.”

Calling the Mosaic District “a good spot to be in,” Amore says he has always envisioned Mimi’s as “a small chain of stores.” The business is also coming to Chevy Chase in two weeks and Rockville in three months.

Looking into 2024, leases have been signed for locations in Annandale and West Falls Church, though Amore couldn’t share the exact addresses yet. A Sterling shop is also a possibility, along with a commissary kitchen where all of the ice cream production will ultimately be consolidated.

Despite the aggressiveness of the planned expansion, he expressed confidence that Mimi’s can maintain the quality that has earned it near-universal acclaim on Yelp and a nod from Northern Virginia Magazine as one of the region’s best restaurants.

“Ice cream stores, the whole dynamic is changing,” Amore said. “We went from two years ago the Baskin Robbins, the Ben and Jerry’s to now a new generation of more artisan ice creams. There’s a bit of shift in the industry, and I think I’m on the edge of that in terms of my flavor strategy, my preparations and so forth.”