The Dolly Llama Waffle Master to bring artisanal ice cream, creative waffles to Asheville

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times

August 25, 2023 at 5:08 AM·5 min read

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master offers a variety of toppings for its ice cream and waffle concoctions.

ASHEVILLE - A new dessert bar is heading to town to melt away traditional ideas of ice cream and show the depth of a classic breakfast item.

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master, an artisanal ice cream and waffle shop, is slated to open this fall at Two Town Square Blvd., Suite 130, in the Biltmore Park Town Square ― the former address of O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store.

The sweet shop is sandwiched between Thirsty Monk and Taco Boy, which will open this fall, too.

The Dolly Llama’s addition to the mixed-use community is to introduce a unique concept to families and guests of all ages, said local franchise owner Ryan Bivins, who’s opening the shop with his wife, Kristie.

“What it all boils down to is the experience we want customers to have of not only having something amazing to eat, but the fun atmosphere of it,” he said. “We look forward to opening up and for people to come in and enjoy the experience and have some fun.”

Ryan and Kristie Bivins, franchise owners of The Dolly Llama in Biltmore Park August 24, 2023.

Waffles, ice cream and more

Customers will have a choice of signature and custom waffle creations and milkshakes with toppings including fresh fruit, candy, cereal pieces, cookie bits and sauces.

Desserts may served in cups, cones, or as sandwiches.

Belgian waffle makers are being shipped in from Belgium, and the shop uses a special recipe.

Bubble waffles flex to create a cone structure to hold the tower of ice cream and toppings of choice.

The OG Liege style of waffle sets the foundation for a plated stackable concoction, like Dolly's Dream — made with Ultimate Cookie Monster ice cream, fresh strawberries, brownies and Nutella sauce.

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master, opening in Asheville, offers ice cream-topped waffle creations, milkshakes and more.

Gluten-free waffles will be introduced later.

The best tip for eating the massive, artistically designed creation is to “dive in.”

“You take a spoon, then you take a bite of the waffle. Eat it however you want,” Ryan Bivins said.

Inside The Dolly Llama-Asheville

The 1,500-square-foot commercial space is amid an extensive construction project that’s building the business from the ground up.

Meanwhile, for building a dessert, the first step will be to pick a dairy or vegan ice cream or sorbet at the ordering counter. Next, guests may customize their dessert or opt for one of the many signature dessert combinations, like Llama Gone Nuts ― a bubble waffle topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh bananas, almonds and peanut butter sauce.

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master, an artisanal ice cream and waffle shop, owned by Ryan and Kristie Bivins, is slated to open this fall at Two Town Square Blvd., Suite 130, in the Biltmore Park Town Square.

Tables will line the front window with additional seating in the back ― an area that will double as a private event room.

The Dolly Llama’s hours will be 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

The Bivinses are aiming for a late September debut, but a grand opening date hasn’t been set. The business partners are planning for giveaways and surprises.

And there just may be a live llama appearance at the celebration.

Dolly and a dream of desserts

In 2017, childhood friends and entrepreneurs Eric Shomof and Samuel Baroux launched the dessert shop concept in Los Angeles. The business’s name was inspired by a real llama named Dolly who lives on Baroux’s favorite farm in the south of France.

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master will open in Asheville in Fall 2023. The franchise specializes in ice cream-topped waffle creations, milkshakes and more.

The Dolly Llama now has locations in California, Florida, New York, Texas and Utah and is steadily growing with a dozen new stores slated to open across the U.S., including in Nevada and South Carolina.

The Asheville store will be the first for the city and North Carolina.

Family fun in South Asheville

Kristie and Ryan Bivins, 16-year residents of Asheville, were drawn to The Dolly Llama by the company’s culture, concept and products. But the brand marketing grabbed their attention first.

Kristie Bivins has a longtime love for llamas. She recalls taking their daughter to a rescue farm where they fed, petted, brushed and walked with llamas.

“I think they’re so cute,” she said. “They’re so fun and unique. … I just love them.”

So, when her husband presented the business to her, she was open to the idea of investing.

Besides the cool llama logo, the taste tests of the desserts were enough to convince the Bivinses to seal the deal on opening the Asheville franchise.

The Dolly Llama Waffle Master will open in Asheville in Fall 2023, offering catering and delivery.

“The product is amazing. The waffles and mixes and the different things you do with it (are) absolutely amazing,” Ryan Bivins said. “At that point, I was hooked on it.”

It’s the couple’s first foray into desserts but they’ve been in the business of bringing the community together for a fun time. For six years, the Bivinses have owned Launch Trampoline Park in Arden.

They envision The Dolly Llama as another family-friendly hangout in a neighborhood where they’ve spent much time with their three children.

“We’ve been here 16 years, and this area has grown a lot, the Biltmore Park area, in that time," Ryan Bivins said. "We’ve always gravitated to this area. It’s a good place to shop, grab dinner, see a movie and walk around."

The Dolly Llama at Biltmore Park Town Square is an extension of the parent-entrepreneurs’ existing business ethos.

“Both of our businesses are about coming to create memories and experiences with your family,” Kristie Bivins said.

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