Livermore, California – One of Hawaii’s most iconic ice cream shops just opened a brand-new branch right here in the Bay Area, in downtown Livermore, California.
Lappert’s Ice Cream, best known for its locations in Kauai and Maui, opened a branch in the East Bay city on June 14. Photos from the store’s grand opening show people lining up for scoops and cups of their iconic ice cream.
Lappert’s originally started in 1983, when Austrian-French immigrant Walter Lappert decided to expand his small ice cream shop in Sausalito, California, to his favorite place in the world: Kauai.
Lappert’s used unique tropical produce and items from the islands – including macadamia nuts, Kona coffee, guava, and other tropical fruits – to create delicious and super-creamy ice cream that wowed people even decades ago.
Those recipes remain largely unchanged today. I always stop by Lappert’s when I’m in Maui, and their Sausalito location has remained a hit for decades.
Lappert’s has continued to expand, with Walter Lappert’s son, Michael, taking over the business and bringing it to more locations on the mainland. Now, those locations include Livermore!
You can stop by the new location, which is in the space formerly occupied by Falafel Gyro Kebab House. Check out their iconic Kauai Pie, which is made with Kona coffee ice cream and macadamia nuts. They also have flavors that include ube and other tropical ingredients, like coconut.
Perhaps a bit strangely, Livermore is fast becoming a hub for Hawaiian desserts. Lappert’s is the newest addition, but Maui’s iconic Ululani’s Shave Ice also has an outpost in Livermore, across from the outlets.
I visited that location last week, and they were serving Lappert’s ice cream alongside their shave ice. It’s nice to see Hawaiian companies bringing some of the island magic to our area – and also to see them collaborating.
At first glance, this enclave of Hawaiian dessert in Livermore doesn’t make a lot of sense. There’s not much in terms of parallels between landlocked Livermore and the Hawaiian Islands!
But when you think about the climate, it makes a lot more sense. Livermore is one of the driest, sunniest parts of the East Bay, so it’s the perfect spot to enjoy an island-inspired ice cream or shave ice.
I will definitely be stopping by to try out the new Lappert’s location. Make sure to join our free 95 News newsletter so I can share my review as soon as I visit.
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