Life happens: Frankie and Jo's announced an unexpected delay, but is now scooping at its U Village location. 

Seattle's unimpeachably delicious vegan and gluten-free ice cream chainlet has readied its third location. Frankie and Jo's has announced that doors are officially open at its new shop in University Village; it's hard to miss the beachy pink facade, in its decently central spot next to Evergreens. Inside, both scoops and pints (and freshly folded maple-vanilla waffle cones) await.

Since the original shop arrived on Capitol Hill in 2016, Frankie and Jo's has built a fan base far beyond Seattle, based on a potent combo of technical knowhow (cofounders Kari Brunson and Autumn Martin know how to spin alternative milks into the sort of flawless texture that usually speaks of heavy cream) and flavors that exude carefree SoCal vibes. The new U Village outpost will scoop signature combos like chocolate tahini supercookie, date shake, and California cabin, a smoked vanilla with shortbread and subtle pine notes. Culinary director Amy Brown helps finesse seasonal creations like blueberry crisp, kale lime leaf (a coconut–oat milk sherbet), and the chocolate–coconut–sun butter swirl-up known as Eclipse.

Like its sibling shops in Ballard and on Capitol Hill, this Frankie and Jo's is rocking all the PPE, social distancing guidelines, and plexiglass barriers that are de rigueur this summer. The fully stocked pint cooler offers a handy way to skip the inevitable lines; hours are 11–10 daily.

This is but the first of several exciting food options landing at the shopping center this summer. Hello Robin will open a second cookie bakery here in July, and that new Shake Shack looks fully patio umbrella'd and ready to roll any day now.