Novel Ice Cream to Open in Historic Tempe House
The small-batch dessert shop plans to move into the relocated Harry Walker House on Fifth Street in early 2027.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Desserts
Novel Ice Cream, a Tempe small-batch ice cream shop known for its glazed donut stuffed with ice cream, plans to open a location in the historic Harry Walker House. The owner hopes to open its doors in early 2027.
Why it matters
The move ties a popular local dessert business to a restored 1903 landmark that the city relocated to make way for a planned 30-story mixed use development. It shows how a historic building can be preserved and given a new commercial use.
The city of Tempe invested over $500,000 in restoring the 1903 building, which was completed to roughly 50-75% of a full restoration. The opening date remains a projection, with the shop hoping to open in early 2027.
The players
Novel Ice Cream
A small-batch ice cream shop that grew into a Valley dessert stop, known for its signature Dough Melt glazed donut stuffed with ice cream and operating locations in Tempe, Grand Avenue and Mesa.
City of Tempe
The Arizona city that acquired and relocated the Harry Walker House to make way for a 30-story mixed use development and invested in its restoration.
The details
The city of Tempe moved the Harry Walker House, built in 1903 by the groundskeeper of the Tempe Normal School, to Fifth Street next to Tempe City Hall. After the move the city installed utilities and landscaping, and the building was conveyed to the city in September 2025.
Timeline
1903: Harry Walker built the home for his family.
September 2025: The home was conveyed to the city of Tempe.
Early 2027: Novel Ice Cream hopes to open at the Harry Walker House.
Market Landscape
Adaptive reuse of National Register-listed buildings for food and beverage businesses has become a recurring approach in Arizona downtowns as cities balance preservation with dense redevelopment. The Harry Walker House move fits that pattern, pairing a historic 1903 structure with a new dessert tenant beside Tempe City Hall.
Tempe residents who enjoy dessert will have a new Novel Ice Cream location to visit once the shop opens in early 2027. The adjacent relocated landmark also gives visitors near Tempe City Hall another place to stop.
The takeaway
Historic buildings can be relocated and restored to serve new purposes, giving residents a preserved landmark alongside new local businesses. Watch for the confirmed opening date from Novel Ice Cream as early 2027 approaches.
What happens next
Novel Ice Cream expects to open at the Harry Walker House in early 2027, with the exact date still to be announced.
Further reading
Explore more Tempe desserts coverage for other local sweet spots.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Statepress.
