Blue Bell returns to North Texas on Nov. 2

DALLAS - North Texans will finally be able to buy Blue Bell ice cream again on Nov. 2.

The company announced Thursday that North-Central Texas, which includes Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco, will be in the second phase of its return to market. The Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas are also included.

Sales official Ricky Dickson said there was a tremendous customer response after Blue Bell ice cream returned to store shelves in Austin and Houston on Aug. 31. The release in the North Texas market was delayed slightly so that the company could work on production and safely keep up with the demand.

Only two of Blue Bell’s three facilities have reopened. The facility in Brenham, Texas is still being upgraded after a deadly listeria contamination.

The same five flavors of ice cream that are currently available in Austin and Houston will be available in North Texas: Homemade Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, Cookies ‘n Cream, Buttered Pecan and The Great Divide.

More flavors will be added in the future and Blue Bell will return to other markets in three more phases, but the company has not released a timeline for those events.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us during this time," Dickson said. "Thank you for your patience as we work to return to our markets."