Vegan Ice Cream Sensation Frankie and Jo’s Is Expanding to Ballard

Capitol Hill’s vegan ice cream sensation, Frankie and Jo’s, is blessing Ballard with its dreamy dairy-free delights: The company’s second location is planned for early 2018 on NW 70th St between 12th Ave NW and 15th Ave NW, a busy stretch that includes Seattle favorites like Delancey and The Fat Hen as well as sleeper hits like Rosselini’s (formerly Honore) and Brunswick and Hunt.

Since they’ve been facing hungry lines since opening last November, owners Autumn Martin (whose other sweet success, Hot Cakes, also has ubiquitous lines in Ballard and Capitol Hill) and Kari Brunson (Juicebox Cafe) aren’t fiddling much with the formula for round two, according to Seattle Met. They’re planning another freezer full of fantastical flavors — “plant-based” in modern PR parlance, which in this case means the ice creams are made mostly with sprouted cashew milk and coconut milk or fruits and veggies in the case of the sorbets — like salty caramel ash and gingered golden milk. They’re sticking with a rotating trio of “agressively seasonal” options like the current corn basil chili. And they’re designing another space brimming with natural light and greenery, including a cactus garden patio at the back. The pint cooler will be twice as big as the original, though, for anyone who’s hoping to skip the line and take a container on the go.

Coincidentally, Portland-based ice cream superstar Salt and Straw is opening Seattle locations in Capitol Hill (as reported) and Ballard as well, with both currently slated for this winter, The Seattle Times said. Somehow, it doesn’t feel like the cold and rainy season will impede the lines for either of these hot spots, though.