Over the weekend, Carmine De Santo announced on Facebook that he is bringing gelato to Orillia. The community's response was fast and overwhelming.
“I was blown away because it went viral. Everyone is going nuts,” De Santo said of the Facebook post that was widely shared. “I think they are excited because I don’t think there has ever been a gelato shop in Orillia.”
Orillia Italian Gelato & Market is set to open at 3 Peter St. S. behind Dr. Comics, which is also owned by De Santo. He hopes the new shop will be open by the middle of June.
“My family has been in the bakery and gelato business since 1967. When my mom and dad came here from Italy they opened a bakery in Toronto,” De Santo explained of his passion for the popular Italian desert.
Gelato is an all-natural flavoured frozen dessert that is comparable to ice cream. De Santo says his shop will feature the most common and famous flavours as well as some unique flavours such as roasted marshmallow and salted caramel.
“The health freaks will love it and people who have been to Italy and loved it are going to be excited to have it here,” De Santo said.
Orillia Italian Gelato & Market will also be offering non-perishable specialty grocery items that have been imported from Italy.
Customers will also be able to purchase special kinds of pasta, tomato sauces, oils in addition to unique and authentic Italian items that you can’t find in local grocery stores, he said.
“If someone wants to go home and cook themselves a nice plate of pasta, I’m going to give them the best sauce and best pasta to make themselves dinner,” De Santo said.
Opening up a new business during a pandemic comes with no fear for De Santo. He believes the community will embrace and support his new store.
“I’m going to have no concerns, I think it’s going to do good,” he said confidently.
De Santo says Orillia Italian Gelato & Market will be following all health protocols when they open their doors. Hhe doesn’t expect there to be a dine-in service during the opening months of operation for the new downtown enterprise.
“As soon as we get the health inspectors in to give us the green light, we should be good to go. It’s looking good and it’s very exciting,” he said.
