Helados Bon has opened its 400th franchise location in Santo Domingo Este, marking a major milestone in the company's 54-year history.
The new ice cream shop opened at Plaza Loscar 2, located at kilometer 11½ of the Mella highway in the San Luis sector of the municipality. The store will offer service daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., serving local residents and passing travelers along the busy commercial corridor.
The opening ceremony was hosted by franchise owners David Reyes and Maryen de León, a husband and wife team who operate the new establishment. They were joined at the inauguration by executive staff from Helados Bon and employees of the store.
Guillermo Botero, the general manager of Helados Bon, said the new location reaffirms the underlying purpose of the company to remain close to Dominican families. He said the chain seeks to put the opportunity to share what it calls the flavor of happiness within reach of all customers through ice cream products designed to accompany gatherings and special occasions.
Expansion in Santo Domingo Este
Botero noted that establishing a presence in San Luis significantly strengthens coverage for the brand across Santo Domingo Este. He highlighted the sector as one of the areas experiencing the most rapid population growth and commercial dynamism in the surrounding province.
Santo Domingo Este is the most populous municipality in the Dominican Republic, situated on the eastern bank of the Ozama River opposite the national capital. The Mella highway functions as a key transit and trade route across the region, linking central urban commercial hubs with developing suburban districts like San Luis.
Reaching the 400-store milestone confirms the long-term commitment of Helados Bon to grow together with local communities, Botero said. He added that the franchise model generates business opportunities for local entrepreneurs while bringing the products of the company to a larger number of families.
Pioneering the franchise model
Helados Bon was founded 54 years ago and is widely regarded as a pioneer of the commercial franchise business model in the Dominican Republic. Over more than five decades, the ice cream enterprise has built an extensive national retail footprint, becoming one of the most prominent consumer brands in the Caribbean country.
Under the franchise model, independent operators partner with corporate leadership to manage local stores. This commercial strategy has enabled Helados Bon to expand into neighborhoods, suburban sectors, and regional provinces while fostering local employment and small-business ownership.
International presence and global plans
Alongside its extensive domestic network, Helados Bon continues to build its international presence. The Dominican company currently maintains active commercial operations in the United States and across multiple Caribbean island markets, including Jamaica, Aruba, Sint Maarten, and Antigua.
Looking to the future, the business is preparing to scale its international footprint substantially. Helados Bon expects to open up to 600 new locations across the United States in 2026 as part of its ongoing global growth strategy.
