Novel Ice Cream delays opening of Peoria shop to focus on East Valley expansion

Phoenix-based Novel Ice Cream expects to open its Tempe shop by the end of the year, but its plans for downtown Peoria are on hold.

The company announced the update in an Instagram video Tuesday, saying it is pausing the Peoria project to focus on Tempe and other initiatives.

The Tempe location will occupy the historic Harry Walker House, built in 1903 and now on Fifth Street next to Tempe City Hall.

The house was moved from the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Forest Avenue in September 2025 to make way for a 30-story apartment tower.

Novel Ice Cream in Peoria has been in the works since 2024

Announced in early 2024, the Peoria shop was initially expected to open that year. The opening was later planned for fall 2026 inside Jefferson House on the northwest corner of 83rd Avenue and Jefferson Street.

Novel is known for its dough melt, which sandwiches ice cream inside a glazed doughnut. The shop offers 12 ice cream flavors, including eight permanent options such as blue Cookie Monster and bourbon toffee caramel crunch.

Its ice cream is made in-house, and fruit sorbets offer a dairy-free alternative.

Novel Ice Cream currently has two locations: one in downtown Phoenix near Seventh Avenue and Roosevelt Street and another in downtown Mesa near Center and Main streets.

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