The mind behind Old Town Books is preparing a sweet new chapter, one that is certain to inspire delight in local ice cream enthusiasts. Ally Kirkpatrick is preparing to open the first brick and mortar location of Fabled Ice Cream, a concept she hopes will provide as much comfort and joy as a great book.
The ice creamery will be opening at 7940 Fort Hunt Road as part of the Hollin Hall Shopping Center. Kirkpatrick was kind enough to speak to What Now DC about dipping into this new adventure, saying “I started thinking about the connection between the way books and ice cream make people feel. Both are tied to happiness, memory, connection, and community. After building that kind of gathering place with Old Town Books, I realized I wanted something similar in my own neighborhood.”
Hollin Hall provides the exact sort of bustle and activity that will help Fabled Ice Cream flourish. Kirkpatrick states: “I grew up going to Hollin Hall, so there’s a lot of nostalgia for me there. But I also love the community feel of the shopping center. It’s busy, walkable, and filled with neighborhood businesses and people running into people they know. It felt like exactly the kind of place where a neighborhood ice cream shop belongs.”
Kirkpatrick is applying a keen reader and writer’s eye to crafting the Fabled experience. She explains: “The vision is a classic neighborhood scoop shop, but through the lens of storytelling. We’ll serve American hard-scoop ice cream with 16 flavors at a time, including nondairy and allergy-friendly options. I want it to feel welcoming, joyful, and like a place where folks linger after dinner or kids bike over for a cone. We’re working with GroH Playrooms on the design, the same team that designed Old Town Books Junior, so there will definitely be a sense of play and imagination in the space.”
Of course, the ice cream will be the star of the show, and Fabled will have options on hand to please every palate, while also ensuring visitors with dietary restrictions are seen and fed as well. “We’ll have 16 rotating flavors, with a mix of Fabled favorites and seasonal flavors, all with the literary-inspired names that are part of the brand.” Kirkpatrick says. “We’re focused on premium, small-batch ice cream made with grass-fed dairy, along with nondairy and allergy-friendly options. You can expect scoops, cones, pints to take home, and a few other treats we’re still developing.”
While Fabled is certain to set tummies rumbling, future regulars still have a bit of a wait ahead of them. Kirkpatrick aims to have the ice cream parlor open and ready in time for next year’s ice cream season. The eatery’s arrival promises to be a highmark for 2027-and truly a special new addition to the local community. Kirkpatrick’s vision for the business transcends heaping scoops of delicious ice cream- “Fabled is really about creating a place people can return to again and again, and hopefully become part of their family traditions.”
