- May 7, 2026
The Purple Donkey is opening its second location May 22, expanding into Palm Coast after building a following at its original beachside shop. The new store will take over the space where Purdue’s Ice Cream once operated, at at1070 Palm Coast Parkway NW, Suite 5, bringing the growing concept inland and closer to many of its existing customers.
Owner Daniel Cope said the shop specializes in “dirty sodas,” a trend that combines traditional soft drinks with flavored syrups, creams and other add-ins to create customized drinks. He described the concept as taking a familiar beverage and turning it into something more experiential, similar to how coffee chains personalize drinks.
“We basically do to soda what Starbucks does to coffee,” Cope said.
The Palm Coast expansion comes as many local residents have already been traveling to the Flagler Beach location, making a second storefront a natural next step, he said. While the new location will feature many of the same offerings that built its reputation, Cope said it will not be an exact replica. Instead, the Palm Coast shop will introduce new items and variations designed to make each visit feel different depending on the location.
Planned additions include Italian ice and the return of “Donkey Tails,” a waffle-on-a-stick treat. The menu will also feature a Palm Coast–specific signature drink, part of a broader goal to give each store its own identity.
“I don’t want every shop to be cookie cutter,” Cope said, “Every time you go to a Purple Donkey, it’s a new experience.”
The original Purple Donkey, which opened in January 2025, quickly gained traction through word of mouth and social media.
“The biggest challenge with a new business is just getting people to come in and try it,” Cope said, “Once they try it, they come back.”
That growing customer base, along with a reliable team of employees, gave him the confidence to expand.
Looking ahead, Cope said he is continuing to explore additional locations, including potential sites in nearby cities. For now, the focus remains on launching the Palm Coast store in time for Memorial Day.
