The Dolly Llama, a dessert shop featuring waffles and ice cream, will hold its Ponte Vedra Beach grand opening Sept. 10.
The shop, in Tournament Plaza at 830 Florida A1A N., No. 16, will open at 2 p.m. with the first 100 guests receiving a Dolly Llama T-shirt and other items, the company announced in a news release.
It is the first Florida location for the Los Angeles-based chain.
Spouses Josh and Wendy Popkin are the Ponte Vedra Beach franchise owners.
“There’s no better combo than warm waffles, innovative ice cream and the beach during the end of summer, so we can’t wait to celebrate and share these inventive waffle & ice cream creations with the Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville community,” Josh Popkin said in the release.
The company said it plans to open 40 stores as part of an “aggressive and immediate” franchise expansion. It has three stores in Southern California and one in Dallas.
The Dolly Llama said several shops are under construction, with the concept soon entering Las Vegas as part of a five-unit deal.
In Florida, it said multiunit deals have been signed in Winter Garden, St. Augustine and other parts of the state.
According to thedollyllamala.com, childhood friends Samuel Baroux, a French restaurateur and entrepreneur, and Eric Shomof, a real estate developer, created the concept in 2017.
“The Dolly Llama has officially entered two new states in 2022, and it’s such an accomplishment and gives us motivation to keep going,” Shomof said in the release.
“Our Dallas franchise opened back in May and is proving to be an absolute success, so I have no doubt that Josh and Wendy will do the same at Ponte Vedra Beach.”
The Dolly Llama will be open noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Dolly Llama specializes in handcrafted dessert waffles paired with ice cream and custom toppings.
The company website says it became popular.
“The Dolly Llama has dominated LA’s waffle scene with its own unique take on the Bubble Waffle, in addition to Dolly Llama Shakes, Waffle Sticks, and OG liege Waffles and continues (to) prove that all waffles don’t need syrup.”
The company said its owners decided that Dolly, a llama on a farm in the South of France, “would be the perfect representation for their ice cream and waffle brand, bringing all that fun llama spirit into creative dessert concoctions, happy customers and great, fun vibes.”
Online prices in Dallas show “top picks” waffles and ice cream items are $11. Scoops start at $5, ice cream sandwiches are $8 and shakes are $11.
Editor Karen Brune Mathis contributed to this report.
