Ice cream brand loved by Oprah opening 2 more locations in the KC area
Clementine’s Ice Cream — a St. Louis-based company that recently entered the KC market — is opening two more spots in the metro.
The brand, which boasts of extra creamy and artisanal flavors, is opening locations at Elmridge and 87th Streets in Lenexa City Center, and 1298 Berkley Parkway in the riverfront area.
The spots are estimated to land in spring or summer of 2026. Both are new build-outs.
“We’re so female-focused, and we just think that’s gonna be such a vibrant part of the riverfront,” Clementine’s founder Tamara Keefe said, then added, “Lenexa is an up-and-coming, young, growing community.”
Its Prairie Village location at 6966 Mission Road opened in September.
Clementine’s creates flavors in small batches without any artificial ingredients. All the cookies, cakes and other add-ins are baked by hand and then put into the ice cream.
The brand also has a higher butterfat percentage than most ice cream competitors, making it extra rich. While many ice cream brands have a 50% “overrun,” or air content, Clementine’s delivers a denser product with less than 30%.
Clementine’s gooey butter cake ice cream landed a spot on The O List in 2019, with Oprah Magazine calling it the “sexiest ice cream alive.”
While some locations offer naughty (boozy) flavors, locations on the Kansas side of the metro will be sober.
The spot also offers dairy-free ice cream, like its vegan tahini chocolate chip flavor.
For the holidays, Clementine’s is offering six specialty flavors as part of a Holiday Cookie Exchange line. Each ice cream in the series is made in collaboration with pastry chefs from across the country. Representing Kansas City, Megan Garrelts of Rye helped craft Nana’s 7 Layer Bar Ice Cream with brown butter ice cream and a butterscotch sauce.
The flavor is available at both Clementine’s and Rye for the holidays, and pints are shipped worldwide through Goldbelly. Other holiday flavors include Thick Mint and Justine’s Sticky Toffee.
“No one ever remembers the person who brings a bottle of wine to a party or family event, but everyone remembers the person who brings Clementine’s ice cream,” Keefe said.
Clementine’s was founded in 2014 and has spots across the St. Louis area. It has one location in Illinois and will soon open a spot in Bentonville, Arkansas.