Kansas City’s Betty Rae’s Ice Cream is expanding to Johnson County … and more soon?
Popular Betty Rae’s Ice Cream is opening its third location by the end of September — its first outside Kansas City limits — and more may be on the way.
The location is coming to Olathe at 10470 South Ridgeview Road. Its other two spots are in Waldo at 7140 Wornall Road and the River Market at 412 Delaware St.
Betty Rae’s has been a local favorite since its 2016 Waldo opening, serving a variety of flavors, including lavender honey, creme brulee, chocolate brownie and matcha.
The shop also sells ice cream sandwiches and ice cream flights, or several small servings of Betty Rae’s top scoops. It offers sweet frozen treats from its bookable truck.
In 2017, it made headlines after introducing barbecue-obsessed Kansas City to its burnt ends ice cream: sweet cream ice cream with caramel and candied burnt ends sprinkled in. Other rotating flavors include its blood orange creamsicle and brown sugar mochi.
Owner Matt Shatto purchased the business in May, saying at the time he intended to expand. But plans progressed faster than Shatto anticipated.
He originally wanted to wait a year to unveil more shops, but, an Olathe resident himself, he secured an ideal spot nearby, close to the Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex.
“The journey has been fun, and honestly, a bit easier of a transition than I thought,” he said.
Now, Shatto is looking for more spots across the metropolitan area.
“I mean, heck, we could easily open one or a couple more between now and next spring, or if we don’t find the right locations, we’ll be patient,” he said.
Betty Rae’s has changed hands a few times since its inception. The original shop was opened by David Friesen, who named the business after his grandmother.
Former manager Alec Rodgers purchased the business in 2021, saying in a statement to the media that he didn’t plan to own the business long term but wanted to “realign” the brand.
Shatto grew up on a dairy farm and later joined his family company, Shatto Home Delivery, which aims to “bring the milkman back to Kansas City.”
Since announcing Betty Rae’s new store, Shatto said his social media has been flooded with comments from excited customers.
“We’re bringing a local concept that is really best in its class,” he said.