Gourmet ice cream shop Jeni's now open in Athens, scooping flavors like Texas Sheet Cake

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
A scoop of salted licorice sits on top of a scoop of wildberry lavender at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.
A scoop of salted licorice sits on top of a scoop of wildberry lavender at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

Temperatures will still be in the 90s when fall classes begin at the University of Georgia, so having a place nearby to get cool treats certainly can't hurt. The highly anticipated Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has opened its Athens location in Five Points.

The dessert spot is housed at the former site of Georgia Federal Credit Union, 1710 S. Lumpkin St., across from Earth Fare. Jeni's blocked off the bank's drive-thru area, used the existing teller window for walk-up service and transformed the area behind the restaurant into an open patio with umbrella tables.

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The store front of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at 1710 S. Lumpkin St. in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Jeni's kept the existing structure of the former Georgia Federal Credit Union building.
The store front of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at 1710 S. Lumpkin St. in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Jeni's kept the existing structure of the former Georgia Federal Credit Union building.

Jeni's offers 20 different flavors at a time with special limited-time varieties that come out on a weekly basis. A standard double scoop bowl costs $6.25, plus $1.50 if you want it in a waffle cone. Some flavors, such as Blackout Chocolate Cake or Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns, are only available by the pint at $12 each. The most cost-efficient way to taste multiple flavors at Jeni's is the $21 ice cream flight, which features 10 small-size scoops.

At gourmet prices, the scope of tastes at Jeni's is appropriately impressive. When the Banner-Herald visited, we tried Black Licorice, Wildberry Lavender, Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Texas Sheet Cake. The scoops are smaller than other chains' offerings, but the flavors and texture are original and interesting. We'll be coming back on Aug. 10 for a scoop of Butterscotch Popcorn.

Though an official grand opening date and online ordering for the Athens Jeni's location have yet to be announced, the shop is open to foot traffic, with limited parking, seven days a week from noon to 11 p.m. For up-to-date details and menu information, visit jenis.com/pages/athens.

A customer checks out the selection of flavors at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The chain location opened on July 27.
A customer checks out the selection of flavors at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Athens, Ga. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The chain location opened on July 27.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams opens Athens location near UGA campus