A small blue rectangle on a commercial leasing plan has generated an outsized helping of headlines across Central Indiana.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams plans to open at The Union at Fishers District near Interstate 69 and 116th Street. If completed as planned, it will be the Columbus, Ohio-based company’s first Indiana scoop shop.
Jeni’s did not announce the location. Reporter Leila Kheiry of Current Publishing first discovered the company’s name on a leasing plan posted by developer Thompson Thrift.
The plan provides an important detail: Jeni’s is shown in the color designated for a signed lease, not a space under negotiation. However, Jeni’s has not confirmed an opening date and declined to comment when contacted by IndyStar.
The attention is not being driven by a shortage of ice cream. Handel’s has operated along 116th Street since 2002, while Graeter’s now has two Fishers locations.
Instead, the excitement centers on a particular brand entering Indiana for the first time. Jeni’s lists scoop shops in about 30 metropolitan markets, but none in Indiana. Its closest locations are in the Cincinnati area.
Founder Jeni Britton opened the company at Columbus’ North Market in 2002. The brand developed a following with flavors including Brambleberry Crisp, Salty Caramel and Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Britton’s cookbook won a James Beard Foundation award in 2012.
Jeni’s has also connected its products to popular culture through collaborations with “Ted Lasso,” Olivia Rodrigo and American Girl. A case study from a public-relations firm that has worked with Jeni’s says its campaigns generated 18 billion media impressions in 2024. That is a company-supplied marketing measurement, but it demonstrates the brand recognition behind the Fishers reaction.
The location also fits Jeni’s premium positioning. The Union will include approximately 60,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, 251 apartments, offices and a 135-room hotel. Together with the neighboring Slate development, nearly 500 apartments will sit within walking distance.
Fishers’ median household income is approximately $130,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making the city attractive to premium retailers.
The wave of coverage ultimately reflects four things: a first-in-state brand, an affluent and growing market, strong consumer familiarity and the appeal of a reporter, Leila Kheiry, discovering the news before a corporate announcement.