Life has been a lot sweeter in Katy’s northwest quadrant since August 1.

That is when Kingsland Baptist Church opened a second shop for Friends Ice Cream and Coffee, located at their north campus location at 24111 Stockdick School Road in Katy. The original location at Kingsland’s south campus at 20555 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy opened in May 2024.

Manned by adults with special needs known as the Friends Crew, the shop has more than just ice cream, roasting its own coffee and also serving fresh baked goods daily. The north location features a two-story indoor playground, outdoor splash pad, athletic field and outdoor playground for use by the community.

Between the two locations, the church employs about 16 adults aged 18 to 40, who serve as cashiers and perform other duties such as cleaning, making baked goods, scooping ice cream, making coffee and other drinks. There are eight additional non-seasonal employees including Q. Truong, Area Manager; and Kylie Machado and Emma McDaniel, Assistant Managers.

“We saw Friends Ice Cream Coffee as a ministry to our adults with special needs and to the community,” said Truong in an email interview with the Katy Times. “Friends provides an opportunity for our adults with special needs to be employed and it gives them a purpose in life. Friends Ice Cream and Coffee is open to the community as is [our]play area.”

“Families are drawn to ice cream,” Truong said. “Both adults and children love ice cream. Friends Ice Cream and Coffee also serves different types of coffees, smoothies, teas, fruit drinks and pastries.”

Even though the north location has been open for less than two months, it is already drawing more than 700 customers per week, Truong said. But no additional locations are planned at this time.

Friends Ice Cream is open Monday-Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday: from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 to 9 a.m. and 12 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.