Van Leeuwen Ice Cream opens first location in University City

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will open its first University City location at 36th and Walnut streets on Nov. 22.

Founded in 2008 in New York City, the ice cream chain has grown to include nearly 50 locations and sells pints in almost 10,000 grocery stores. The new University City is located at 3631 Walnut St., which was previously occupied by The Accolade on Chestnut, and marks the the fourth Van Leeuwen in Philadelphia.

The location was previously expected to open over the summer, according to the Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services office. However, the storefront postponed its opening to September due to delays before eventually opening in November. 

Ed Datz, Penn’s executive director of real estate, wrote in a July press release that Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services is “looking forward to Van Leeuwen bringing their popular parlor and unique ice cream flavors, including vegan and dairy offerings, to the diverse culinary scene in the Shop Penn District.”

“We founded Van Leeuwen off of a 1988 retrofitted post office truck on the streets of NYC in 2008.  16 years later, we are doing the same work,” Van Leeuwen CEO and co-founder Ben Van Leeuwen wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “We can’t wait to open in University City and bring our guests good ice cream that makes you feel good.”

As part of its “Discount December” promotion, students showing school IDs will receive a 30% discount on their purchases for the month of December — double the typical student discount.

Van Leeuwen's operating hours extend from noon to midnight. Its hours go later than those of neighboring competitors such as Kiwi, which closes at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Surreal Creamery, which closes at 10 p.m.

Wharton junior Ebun Ajao expressed excitement about the store's close proximity to campus.

“My friends and I usually treat each other on our birthday with Van Leeuwen, so it’s nice that it’s a lot closer to campus," said Ajao.

Van Leeuwen is one of a couple new storefronts to open near campus in the past months, most recently following the October reopening of the McDonald's location on Walnut and 40th streets. Philadelphia pizza chain Santucci’s Original Square Pizza will also be coming to University City this year. 

"We are excited to welcome these recent, unique retailers to the Shop Penn Retail District family. We continue to diversify our offerings with quality products, services, and experiences, aligning with our vision for our dynamic district," Datz wrote to the DP over the summer. "They provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for both locals and visitors to learn, create, and enjoy.”