The Dolly Llama Waffle Master intends to open its first Florida location in Tournament Plaza in Ponte Vedra Beach.
St. Johns County issued a permit March 1 for the $80,000 interior remodeling of 1,149 square feet of space at 830 Florida A1A N., Suite 16.
The Los Angeles-based company has three locations in Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks, California.
It says it has six opening soon in Sacramento, California; Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Dallas; and Ponte Vedra Beach.
The Dolly Llama sells ice cream in waffle cones and other waffle creations as well as separately in scoops and pints.
According to thedollyllamala.com, childhood friends Samuel Baroux, a French restaurateur and entrepreneur, and Eric Shomof, a real estate developer, created the concept in 2017.
They decided that Dolly, a llama on a farm in the South of France, “would be the perfect representation for their ice cream and waffle brand, bringing all that fun llama spirit into creative dessert concoctions, happy customers and great, fun vibes.”
The Dolly Llama Waffle Master specializes in handcrafted dessert waffles paired with ice cream and custom toppings.
The site says it became popular.
“The Dolly Llama has dominated LA’s waffle scene with its own unique take on the Bubble Waffle, in addition to Dolly Llama Shakes, Waffle Sticks, and OG liege Waffles and continues (to) prove that all waffles don’t need syrup.”
Franchising.com reported July 13, 2021, that The Dolly Llama announced two franchise deals in Jacksonville and in Tyler, Texas.
The deals are the first for the newly franchised concept since the founders partnered with DCV Franchise Group in late 2019.
Husband and wife Josh and Wendy Popkin are the Ponte Vedra Beach franchise owners.
Josh Popkin has 20 years of experience in restaurant development, daily operations and management, it said.
The couple moved their family to Ponte Vedra Beach in June 2021 and plan to open The Dolly Llama in early 2022.
“The beach community draws both families and tourists but lacks a dessert concept that is unique and serves as a destination for an experience,” Josh Popkin said in the release.
“We are confident that The Dolly Llama will be welcomed by locals and travelers alike, and we can’t wait to unveil everything that The Dolly Llama has to offer to the community.”
Online prices show $11.35 for the “top picks” waffles, $11 for ice cream pints, $14.99 for vegan ice cream pints, $5 to $8 for scoops and $9-$12 for ice cream sandwiches. Shakes are $11.45.
