SWEETENING THE DEAL. Olson’s Ice Cream opened a new location in downtown Eau Claire over Memorial Day weekend, much to the delight of ice cream enthusiasts.

Downtown Eau Claire has you double-covered for any ice cream cravings that might arise following Memorial Day weekend. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Olson’s Ice Cream’s second location in Haymarket Plaza (80 S. Barstow St.) took place Friday, May 24. The weekend-long celebration included trolley rides around downtown Eau Claire for customers, shenanigans in front of their signature “Waffle Wall,” and of course, ice cream. The owners of Olson’s were in attendance, and tours were available for guests to check out the new shop, which has room to seat 50 people at a time.

Olson’s original location, which has been scooping up homemade desserts out of 611 N. Bridge St. in Chippewa Falls since 1944, also serves deli lunches Monday through Saturday. But the Eau Claire location is slated to offer even more: Visitors can expect breakfast and lunch items, baked goods, and a new line of waffle-based desserts. They will also offer caffeinated concoctions brewed with Wisconsin-roasted Collectivo Coffee. The new location is expected to provide 25 new jobs to the downtown.

“We are excited to be part of the Eau Claire Community and the wonderful downtown area,” Olson’s co-owner Jeremy Hunt said. “We look forward to building many more long-term relationships in Eau Claire and providing a place where memories are created with family and friends, just like we have for 75 years.”

Olson’s announced the second location in January, keeping the exact address a secret until a February press conference where they gave a year of free ice cream to someone who correctly guessed the new spot. There were more than a thousand guesses, but only about 50 people got it right, and out of them a winner was selected at random. Haymarket Landing’s proximity to student housing, Phoenix Park, and downtown events make it an ideal spot for the expansion, co-owner Dan Hunt said.

More information about Olson’s Ice Cream is available online at olsonsicecream.com.