No, not the foremost spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. This Dolly Llama (note the spelling) is a buzz-generating maker of hand-crafted waffles and artisanal ice cream that got its start in Los Angeles and has been proliferating rapidly ever since. The East Village storefront out of which the new location will operate beginning next month is the chain’s first New York outpost.
So what’s the story behind the name and logo, which depicts a llama wearing sunglasses? According to the company’s website, the Dolly Llama is “a real llama who lives on a beautiful farm in the South of France. She brings joy to everyone she meets and had a particularly positive impact on Samuel Baroux,” the entrepreneur who co-founded the chain with real estate developer Eric Shomof.
The official opening date of the new location is March 11. Mark it on your calendar since the first 100 customers will receive a free swag bag of The Dolly Llama merch, and everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to enter fun giveaways and raffles throughout the day. The Dolly Llama, 137 First Avenue #2.
