Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, a chain of premium ice cream shops, is planning its first Maryland store in Bethesda.
Founded in 2002 and based in Ohio’s capital city Columbus, the company has about three dozen stores in 10 metropolitan areas, including one in Washington’s 14th and U street corridor.
The Bethesda store will be on Elm Street in Bethesda Row and is expected to open in the fall, according to a report Monday from the online publication Eater Washington D.C.
A company representative reached Tuesday morning was unable to comment and an email request for additional information was unanswered.
Social media postings and food reviews say the company has “a cult following” for its quality and socially responsible business practices.
Promoted as an artisanal ice cream shop that uses premium ingredients sourced from local farms and suppliers, the company was founded by a former baker, Jeni Britton Bauer, who developed scores of flavors, such as sweet cream biscuits and peach jam, churro, pistachio and honey and salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks.
In addition to Ohio stores in Cleveland and Columbus, Jeni’s has stores in Charleston, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles.
