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Feast your eyes upon Gelati Celesti's new location at Short Pump; then Thursday, when the new shop opens, feast on the independent chain's three new anniversary flavors, celebrating 30 years of handmade frozen treats. Hitting the big three-oh never tasted so sweet.
Tucked into its own corner of The Corner at Short Pump, the new Gelati Celesti sports light fixtures made from vintage milk bottles, walls made from reclaimed Virginia barn wood, and art made from quirky ice cream scoops that greet you on either side as you enter the building.
"We wanted there to be a lot of surprises when people came in here," says co-owner and manager Steve Rosser. "You wouldn't expect to see a lot of this in an ice cream store. But much like our ice cream, we have 24 flavors that are always here, but we also have [12] different flavors every time someone comes in, so there's always a little surprise. We wanted a little element of surprise in the design, as well."
The space, now a bright and cheerful shop with a pristine and pastel dairy-farm feel, seats 35 indoors, with additional outdoor seating available at The Corner's communal dining area. The third Gelati location also features an expanded service area; should the line wrap and wind its way around that space, there's always a chalkboard wall within arm's reach. For those looking to grab and go, yes, there will be pints, both pre-packaged and packed to order.
The most delicious anniversary surprise, however, is the release of three new flavors: Bourbon Praline, a sweet, silky combo made with a bourbon reduction and candied, caramelized pecans; Bangkok Peanut, a cream base tinged with spicy peanut sauce and dry-roasted peanuts; and Coconut Curry, an almost savory dip into Thai flavor with yellow curry paste and coconut extract mixed throughout a cream base.
While Gelati Celesti isn't necessarily gelato — it's made with cream as opposed to a classic gelato milk base — the team whips less air into the product than you'd normally find in an ice cream parlor, making for a dense, creamy bridge between the two worlds. It's also the same base recipe the company has been making for 30 years.
So, what is Gelati Celesti looking forward to in the next 30?
"Of course, developing fun and exciting new flavors; that's something we'll always do," says Rosser. "We're interested in more locations, but we have to take it slow. It's a handmade product and if you grow too fast, you lose the product ... But most importantly of all, running a company where everybody has a chance to develop and grow."
Raise a scoop with Gelati Celesti at 11805 W. Broad St. when the new shop opens Thursday, Nov. 20 at noon.
