La La Homemade Ice Cream: A cool place in our neighborhood
A line gathers outside for La La Homemade Ice Cream
Owner Jennifer Lisburg
From cones and cups to sundaes, floats and more, you can find special homemade ice cream treats to help you stay cool this summer, right in our neighborhood. The treats are only a short walk away, at La La Homemade Ice Cream, 3146 Hennepin Avenue.
Founder and owner Jennifer Lisburg makes her own ice cream and the sauces and goodies that go with it – a plethora of flavors from the traditional to the unique, including Raspberry-Honey, Sweet Basil Vanilla and Charlotte’s Web, a blend of toasted coconut and chocolate chunks in vanilla ice cream. Ingredients are locally sourced whenever possible. Gluten-free cones are available, and non-dairy and milk alternative (such as almond milk) ice cream versions are also available.
Lisburg first opened the shop in August 2016. A lifelong part of the food and beverage business, she opened La La in 1993. She watched as people started to ask where food comes from and how and where it is made and sourced. La La reflected that by making each batch by hand with the best quality ingredients.
“I had always liked ice cream,” she said. “I wanted to make the best ice cream in the city.”
The shop did well into 2017. It even drew customers from the western suburbs, as they came into the city for events such as Twins games and discovered an ice cream shop just south of Lake Street. In 2018 street construction temporarily eliminated the sidewalk along Hennepin Avenue, making it hard for customers to get into the store. Business improved in 2019. Then came COVID. The store closed for a week or two, pivoted and reopened until the door literally couldn’t be kept open anymore in October 2020. It just got too cold.
For a time after the reopening, the store required staff and customers to use personal protection measures. “It was a difficult time, but we got through it!” The neighborhood and community at large continued to support La La using the online store platform.
Business continued to grow. “2023 was our best year ever,” said Lisburg.
The year 2024 was another story. With construction on Hennepin Avenue there was no parking in front of the shop and fewer parking spots in the area. Uptown businesses were closing, offering fewer reasons for people to visit Uptown.
“With a drop in business and increased labor and lease costs, doing business here was not sustainable,” said Lisburg. “I had to decide: should La La move, liquidate or keep going? I just closed -- in October 2024.”
The shop reopened on April 10 offering ice cream only. The food and coffee menu was eliminated. La La continues to attend off-site events including the Centennial Lakes Farmers Market, the new Uptown Farmers Market, Twin Cities Pride, the Powderhorn Art Fair and many more. La La is also available to cater weddings and other special occasions. In addition to off-site events, La La is slowly building wholesale accounts with other likewise small independently owned businesses. La La partners with Bryn Mawr Pizza, The Baker’s Wife and Mac’s to name a few. Being seen around town and in small shops means more folks will have the La La brand recognition as it slowly scales up the business at hand -- Ice Cream!
So if you’re craving a banana split, an ice cream sandwich or just a simple chocolate ice cream cone, visit our neighborhood ice cream shop, La La Homemade Ice Cream, 3146 Hennepin. You’ll find a welcome treat.
La La is open Wednesday through Friday 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2 to 8 p.m.