New Zealand soft serve kiosk to join 2027 West Bottoms redevelopment
French Custard owners will launch Fruit Spun Ice Cream Co. near The Depot park, following a successful summer trial in Austin.
By Kwame Silva ·
Jessica Wood and her husband Alex plan to open Fruit Spun Ice Cream Co. in the West Bottoms neighborhood in 2027. The new kiosk will sell soft serve made with a New Zealand style that blends ice cream with frozen fruit. The shop is part of a larger redevelopment project led by real estate investment firm SomeraRoad.
The kiosk is slated for a location just outside the Moline Building at 1020 Santa Fe St. This area is being developed into The Depot, a new public park. The Moline Building will also house Blackbird Collection, a sustainable fashion and interior business, and Two Hands, an Australian-inspired cafe and bar.
Wood says the couple tested the concept at their existing French Custard shop in Austin during the summer. They imported the specialized auger-equipped machine from New Zealand after becoming interested in the trend. "After testing the concept this summer at French Custard, we decided it should be two separate businesses," Wood said.
The new product differs from the custard base used at French Custard. Instead of an egg-rich mixture, the machine combines a scoop of ice cream and a scoop of frozen fruit. Wood describes the result as a treat that is half fruit. Food and Wine noted in May that this style is gaining popularity in the United States, comparing it to a smoothie meeting ice cream.
Strawberry banana was the top selling flavor during the summer trial period, according to Wood. Mango followed as the second most popular option. The kiosk will also offer specialty flavors such as peach. Customers will have access to homemade waffle cones, milkshakes, and sundaes.
Fruit Spun Ice Cream Co. is currently the only kiosk planned for the SomeraRoad development. The other businesses in the Moline Building will occupy brick and mortar spaces. An exact opening date for the soft serve shop has not yet been determined.
The original French Custard shop in Brookside is open for the fall and winter seasons. It operates on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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