(KPAX) Serving up hand crafted ice cream since 1995 to ice cream lovers in Missoula, Big Dipper Ice Cream is now adding a second location.

Owner Charlie Beaton said they’ll set up shop in the Paxson Plaza, located across the parking lot from Southgate Mall and next door to the Dram Shop.

"After 25 years we just thought it was time to branch out a little bit." said Beaton. "If you’re downtown, we have limitations with parking and the lines get really long in the summertime, so we thought it’d be really fun to have another store out near the mall. We thought it was a good opportunity."

The new location will offer indoor seating, an outdoor patio and more merchandise – along with hand-dipped ice cream. Additionally, they’ll hire around 20 new employees.

By opening the new location, Beaton hopes to alleviate some of those long lines and lessen the wait time at the downtown shop.

The grand opening is scheduled for April 2020. In the mean time the original location will still have a place for serving cold ice cream treats.

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