A franchise location of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will open in Melissa this summer. An exact date has not yet been announced, but it is on track to open in June.
Coming to the brand new development at 2613 Sentinel Way, the popular Italian ice and ice cream shop will occupy suite 100.
The location will feature a drive thru, a patio and indoor seating along with carry out and catering services.
Jeremiah’s in Melissa is owned by local husband and wife team, Matt and Natalia O’Mara, with Natalia serving as the store manager. While it is the O’Mara’s first franchise location with the brand, it likely won’t be the only one they bring to the area. Natalia is already working with real estate partners and Jeremiah’s corporate office on finding their next location in Melissa and other parts of the growing Collin County community.
“I first discovered them on business trips to Florida. They have an amazing product – just delicious and quite addictive. They have an amazing following in Florida with about 30 stores that have opened since 1996,” Matt shared with What Now Dallas when asked what attracted them to the brand. “We spent time with Jeremy Litwack, the founder, existing franchisees and customers and quickly realized that the combination of the amazing Italian Ice, Gelati and Soft Ice Cream served in a fun environment would be a big hit in Melissa. It was the most delicious research I’ve ever done! We’re very excited to bring Jeremiah’s to Melissa.”
The O’Mara’s are currently looking for an assistant manager to help run the store. Once hired, they will go through two weeks of training at Jeremiah’s corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida.
“One of the things that we’re excited about is our ability to create jobs,” Matt said. “This is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor of our first store with growth opportunities as we add stores. We’ll be adding other positions as we get closer to opening. Those positions will go through training in Texas.”
Texas’s very first Jeremiah’s opened in 2020 in McKinney. Megan Bourke, the franchise owner of that one, is opening a second location in Lewisville this April. A third North Texas location is also in the works this year for Burleson.
Additionally, the brand recently announced plans for even further expansion in the Lone Star State, signing an area representative deal to open a total of 50 new locations across the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Sherman regions. So, if you don’t have a Jeremiah’s in your city yet, sit tight, you probably will soon.
The recent deal is with Dallas Ice AR, LLC, which is owned and operated by iServ Ice, LLC. iServ is no stranger to the Jeremiah’s brand. They have four Jeremiah’s operating in Florida and are planning to expansion in both states.
“We are incredibly excited to share this Florida-favorite brand with the Dallas community,” Brandon Manly, one of the owners of iServ Ice, LLC., said in a statement. “Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has an extremely large and loyal fan base in Florida, and it continues to grow in Texas. The brand’s company culture is a really exciting factor for us, and the experience that our guests have when they come to our locations, starts with how Jeremiah’s treats and trains their employees. We can’t wait for Texans to stop by and have the full Jeremiah’s experience.”
Launched in Florida in 1996 by Jeremy Litwack, Jeremiah’s offers delicious Italian ice and soft serve ice cream in a variety of flavors “from the everyday to the exquisite and the eccentric.” All flavors – like cake batter, horchata, peach, strawberry lemon and Scoop Froggy Frog (mint chocolate chip) – are made daily in house. But the ultimate frozen treat to get at Jeremiah’s is the Gelati – an indulgent layering of Italian ice and ice cream.
“We are so happy to see our close-knit family expand in 2022, and Texas is the perfect place to do it,” Litwack said. “As I look back on the last 25 years, I can honestly say I am humbled to be where we are today. We are incredibly honored that the iServ Team has embraced our culture, brand and product with such passion and dedication as to take this next step with Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. Being one of our strongest operators in the Florida market, we feel confident in their efforts to lead the charge into the Dallas area. We are extremely excited for them to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the new franchise owners that the iServ team will be developing and supporting.”
Currently, there are six Jeremiah’s open and operating in Texas. Additional franchise locations are being planned for Katy, Cypress, Killeen, Frisco, Pflugerville, Conroe, and Leander.
According to the brand’s website, the Frisco shop will open at 8555 FM 423.
Note: This article has been updated since its original publication to include comment from the owner.
