Three years after opening its doors in Des Moines’ Drake neighborhood, Black Cat Ice Cream is gearing up for a new chapter with a second location slated to open around September 1st in Valley Junction.
Owner Alex Carter reflects on the journey since launching the original shop, admitting his initial inexperience in running an ice cream business. “The first year, we didn’t really know what we were doing. We were just trying to stay afloat,” Carter recalled. “Now, I’d say we know what we’re doing.”
The upcoming 1,700-square-foot space at 134 Fifth St. in West Des Moines, formerly a retail store, promises expanded seating and a larger kitchen. This expansion will facilitate the creation of new flavors and novel ice cream dishes, such as ice cream nuggets, which have become favorites among patrons.
Carter aims to enhance their offerings with more seating options for customers and a kitchen conducive to experimenting with flavors like sugar cookie, campfire s’mores, and gluten-free orange creamsicle. Currently, Black Cat Ice Cream operates a successful truck at the Valley Junction farmers market on Thursday nights.
“We literally don’t have room to do any of that here,” Carter remarked, pointing out the limitations of the original location’s kitchen. “We’re maxed out. That’s how little the kitchen is.”
With plans to expand into catering and retail sales of half-gallons, Carter and his team are eagerly anticipating the opportunities that the new location will bring to serve their community with distinctive, artisanal ice cream creations.
