“I think oftentimes a lot of people will assume, ‘Oh Kevin’s got to be super passionate about chocolate and ice cream,’ and I’m really not,” said founder of Splendid Oaks Chocolates & Ice Cream Kevin DeVries. “I am really passionate about entrepreneurship and the process of building a business from an idea to a full operating endeavor.”

Even though he says otherwise, visitors to his stores in Waco are fully convinced that his talent outside of the business world still shines through because the chocolates and ice cream remain nothing short of exceptional, thoughtfully crafted and undeniably memorable.

After finally finding his love for entrepreneurship in school while attending Baylor University, DeVries decided to pursue chocolate a year before graduating. Basing all of his assignments on the chocolate industry, he gained a bird’s-eye view of the field. However, after graduating, he had one small problem in bringing his undergraduate ideas to fruition: he didn’t actually know how to make chocolate.

“I started learning how to work with chocolate right after graduating, and it was a very, very rough process,” he admitted. “I didn’t realize at the time how, even among trained pastry chefs, chocolate is just a notoriously difficult ingredient to work with.”

After purchasing textbooks and making plenty of mistakes along the way, DeVries eventually felt comfortable enough to make chocolates to sell at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market and any boutiques that would have him. Eventually, he got the opportunity to go to Las Vegas to learn from well-respected chocolatiers in the industry. From there, he opened the Splendid Oaks flagship store, located on Franklin Avenue, in 2020.

“When we were first looking for a space, downtown definitely appealed to me. I just wanted to be a part of the transformation,” explained DeVries. “There’s a lot more room for growing in Waco. That’s part of why we chose downtown because we were like, ‘Man, they don’t have an artisan chocolate and ice cream shop, and we want to bring something new and different to try to be a small part of the transformation.’”

Splendid Oaks isn’t just playing a part in transforming Downtown Waco. To Kevin, Splendid Oaks is bigger than chocolate. “There’s some much bigger-picture ministry goals that we have for Splendid Oaks as an organization,” he said. The name ‘Splendid Oaks’ itself comes from Isaiah 61:1-3, pointing to Kevin’s vision for his company, which is to be a place to facilitate ministry and transformation across Waco.

With goals of partnering with local ministries, Kevin has high hopes for the future of his brand. Explaining his vision, he said, “We’re trying to pursue those [partnerships], and we’re getting closer to some of them becoming a reality working with specific ministries in a unique way that I’ve never seen done before. It’s very innovative, but if it works, it’ll make a massive difference in some people’s lives.” With possible expansion on the horizon, DeVries aims to focus on this initiative as a way to collaborate with other Waco organizations in connecting locals to faith, their families and friends, and the workforce.

“I’ve seen this with people working at Splendid Oaks. When you’re making something with the absolute best ingredients that you can and doing it excellently, there’s a pride that you take in your work,” DeVries said. “On an individual level, there is dignity earned.” Hoping to expand his reach and offer this kind of meaningful, positive work to those who might not otherwise have access to it, Kevin is committed to working hard to make that vision a reality.

While there is much to look forward to, DeVries noted that this is only possible because of the past and current success of the business. Striving for excellence in all he does, Kevin finds joy in his work because of the ability to work in both the creative and scientific sides.

Navigating both realms, Kevin has successfully created delicious chocolates and ice creams unique to his store. From decadent flavors to special combinations, Splendid Oaks chocolates—which take four days to make—are both delectable and exceptional.

Beyond the chocolate, Splendid Oaks has even more to offer. “We’re more than just a chocolate shop. We make really, really high-quality ice cream as well!” DeVries emphasized.

To continue to set themselves apart from the rest of the industry, Splendid Oaks spares no effort in creating the best ice cream they can. Instead of using a single base for every ice cream flavor, Kevin creates each recipe from scratch. This approach gives him greater control over the flavor and texture of each batch and allows for more creativity and precision.

With 16 flavors of ice cream right now and more on the way, it’s definitely worth a visit to taste the difference!

Whether you’re stopping by for a scoop of small-batch ice cream, indulging in handcrafted chocolates or simply curious about the story behind the sweets, Splendid Oaks offers more than just a treat—it offers a glimpse into a bigger vision. From entrepreneurial beginnings and hard-earned skills to a mission rooted in restoration and community, Kevin DeVries has built more than a business. He’s built something meaningful—where excellence, purpose and creativity meet. And lucky for Downtown Waco, that mission comes served with a side of truly incredible chocolates and ice cream!