Gypsy Scoops

Gypsy ice cream truck scoops a spot in budding Fort Worth district

Gypsy Scoops made the jump from food truck to ice cream stand.

Photo courtesy of Gypsy Scoops

Former food truck Gypsy Scoops now has a brick and mortar space on Fort Worth's growing Race Street corridor, where owner Julie Markley has transformed a vintage bungalow into a central kitchen and retail spot.

A mobile caterer since 2012 serving 16 flavors of ice cream, Markley quietly opened the parlor just outside downtown Fort Worth in September, in a 1,400-square-foot wooden bungalow built in 1918.

Markley was running two trucks, and was becoming overwhelmed with requests for large events. "I was looking for a more central kitchen location, never thinking that a public storefront would also present itself this quickly," she says.

Her ice cream flavors include chocolate peanut-butter, banana pudding, coconut, Dreamsicle, mocha fudge, and Mexican vanilla.

In addition, Gypsy Scoops also offers a selection of hard-to-find candy and sweets including nostalgic, childhood favorites such as Whoopie Pies, Charleston Chews, Pop Rocks, bulk jelly beans, and taffy.

Now settled in her space, where she's open to the public Tuesdays-Saturdays 12-8 pm and Sunday 1-6 pm, she's unleashed some specials for the holiday that go beyond a simple ice cream cone.

There are hot cocoa floats and red velvet cake Belgian waffles with peppermint ice cream, at $5 each. There are ice cream pies for $12.99, topped with frozen "whipped topping" and nestled on a crushed graham cracker crust, in flavors such as pumpkin pecan, peppermint, and banana pudding. Adult versions can be had in spiked flavors such as vanilla ice cream with Bailey’s Irish Cream, and vanilla ice cream with Kahlua.

desserts openings

Scones News

Fort Worth baker pops up around town with fresh baked scones

Sunrise Scones

Scones from Sunrise Scones

Fort Worth has a pop-up baker dedicated entirely to the wonderful world of scones: Called Sunrise Scones, it's a mobile bakery that pops up twice a week, selling scones ready to eat or take home and bake.

Sunrise is from baker Gretchen Seegel, who has been baking and selling scones since 2021. Fans seek out out every Saturday at Clearfork Farmers Market at 4801 Edwards Ranch Rd. And during September, she's been popping-up every Wednesday from 10 am-2 pm at Sweet Lucy’s Pies, inside Bluebonnet Circle Park at 3520 Blue Bonnet Cir.

Her signature item is her blueberry lemon scone, a golden-brown pastry featuring whole blueberries and lemon zest. Other flavors include double chocolate, vanilla cream, and s’mores topped with graham cracker crumbles and a chocolate square.

She also does savory flavors such as parmesan pesto that almost resembles focaccia, with its topping of dusted herbs and melted cheese.

Single scones like a pie-shaped wedge, a couple inches high, and most of her flavors come with icing or sprinkled toppings which add to their visual appeal. A single scone is $5, although the more popular order is a four-pack for $20. Orders can be made during markets or through preorder on the site.

In addition to already baked, she also offers a take-and-bake — "so people can buy frozen scones, bring them home, and bake them when they want a fresh scone," she says.

Seegel began baking scones because she could never find ones she liked.

“I love bakeries but more often than not, I was disappointed in the scone,” Seegel says. “They were either overworked, over-mixed, or super sweet.”

Scones were a fun pivot for Seegel, a creative soul who previously designed and sewed children's clothes under her brand called Beatrice Tuley, which she closed when she launched her baking business.

The biggest challenges in the scones operation have been finding quality ingredients while keeping prices reasonable, but she loves the process of creating flavors, with an eye towards seasonality. She's already working on apples and pumpkin for the fall.

"I just think about what would pair well with other flavors and try to find some unique pairings," she says.