Openings & Closings

Betty Rae’s is adding a fourth location and a new test kitchen. Here’s where

The new Betty Rae’s retail store in Merriam will serve as a test kitchen where customers can give feedback on new flavors being tested and considered for retail sale.
The new Betty Rae’s retail store in Merriam will serve as a test kitchen where customers can give feedback on new flavors being tested and considered for retail sale.

Betty Rae’s is adding a fourth location to its growing ice-cream empire.

The latest is planned for Merriam Town Center, which is also home to a Cinemark movie theater and a Dick’s Sporting Goods, among other big-box chains. The address is 5740 Antioch Road.

In addition to serving 26 flavors of ice cream, the new Betty Rae’s will be home to a production facility and a test kitchen. It will rotate flavors monthly so that customers can give feedback on flavors being tested and considered for retail sale.

They’re aiming to open in late May, according to a release.

David Friesen and Mary Nguyen opened the ice cream shop at 7140 Wornall Road in Waldo in 2016, later adding a River Market location at 412 Delaware St.

Matt Shatto of Shatto Milk Co. acquired Betty Rae’s in May. He has since opened an Olathe location and made pints of the shop’s ice cream available at local grocery stores.

David Hudnall
The Kansas City Star
David Hudnall is a columnist for The Star’s Opinion section. He is a Kansas City native and a graduate of the University of Missouri. He was previously the editor of The Pitch and Phoenix New Times.
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