Over the Top is heading over to Waukee.
The beloved Pleasant Hill ice cream shop — and State Fair concessionaire — is opening a second location in the western suburb, owners announced Thursday, the first day of the Iowa State Fair.
“It’s a huge milestone for us,” owner Natalie Carroll said of the expansion.
The ice cream shop signed a lease at 1105 S.E. Pleasant View Drive, Suite 110, Waukee, part of the Kettlestone Peak project and near the new Mullets that just opened.
Carroll said the new location could open in late 2026 or early 2027. “It’ll just depend on how smooth the buildout goes,” she said.
Over the Top’s rotating menu has more than 30 flavors, including non-dairy and vegan options, all crafted from local ingredients sourced from Iowa dairies.
The store has also been honored with two Grand Master Ice Cream Maker awards from the North American Ice Cream Association. To qualify, shops must win three blue ribbon awards in the annual Ice Cream Clinic — judged by dairy science experts — across three separate years within five years. The judging evaluates six critical factors, including flavor, texture, melting quality, color and bacterial standards.
Local shop Black Cat Ice Cream has also been awarded the Grand Master title.
At the fairgrounds, Over the Top is back open on the Grand Concourse. New this year is the Sweet Americana, a three-scoop variety tray of strawberry shortcake ice cream topped with a sugar cookie, lemon bar ice cream topped with a lemon bar square and blueberry crisp ice cream topped with chocolate-covered blueberries.
The treat was one of the Top 11 new fair foods. And while it just missed out on moving to the final round of three to vie for the Best New Fair Food, the Sweet Americana was named the Red, White & Blue New Food for its nod to the patriotism of the America 250 celebration.
And, yes, they will be serving last year’s favorite, the Scotcheroo Shake, again in 2026.
“The magic of a scotcheroo is that it doesn’t feel commercialized. It’s not a Twinkie,” Carroll said last year, describing the dessert’s lasting hold on Iowans. “In so many other arenas of life, it’s very much about what’s big, what’s flashy, what’s trending, what’s new.
“This is homemade, and the fair is one place where that is glorified.”
(This article was updated with new information.)
Courtney Crowder is a senior writer and Iowa Columnist. You can contact her at (515) 284-8360 or ccrowder@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Over the Top brings its award-winning ice cream to Waukee
Reporting by Courtney Crowder and Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Courtney Crowder and Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
