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Dolcessa closes, but its gelato lives on
Dolcessa has closed its retail gelato and sandwich shop at 1106 Brown St. near the University of Dayton campus, but its gelato will live on in area restaurants and cafes, according to Dolcessa owner Jules Opperman.
Opperman said she wanted to focus on the wholesale side of the business, including developing custom flavors for restaurants. “We wanted to concentrate on what we do the best, which is making gelato and sorbetto,” she said.
Dolcessa was founded in late 2006 on a narrow storefront on East Fifth Street in Dayton’s Oregon District. In November 2007, it moved to its Brown Streeet location near UD.
Opperman said Dolcessa will continue to supply gelato to independent restaurants and cafes in the area, and when warm weather arrives, will sell gelato from a cart at local festivals, fairs and other outdoor events. But there are no current plans to reopen a retail store, she said on the Dolcessa Facebook page.
Therapy Cafe in Dayton’s Cannery Arts District has begun serving Dolcessa gelato-infused martinis, including a Chocolate Gelato Martini Swirl, according to Duante Beddingfield, Therapy Cafe’s public relations director. And Dolcessa’s gelato is being served at Caffeine, the coffee shop at the 2nd Street Public Market at 600 E. Second St. at Webster Street in Dayton. Restaurants such as Jay’s, Rue Dumaine, Christopher’s and Franco’s Ristorante Ristorante Italiano also are serving or have served Dolcessa’s gelato in recent months, Opperman said.
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Comments
By jonbuoy186
December 5, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this
I went to the local Wal-Mart here in Levy Co. FL. the other day and asked the customer service rep.where the Gelato was located,She said Jello was in aisle seven.
By John from Bella Vino
December 5, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
Bella Vino in Springboro will be featuring some of Jules’ creations at the bar. We’ve got pear gelato by the scoop (and in a killer cocktail) right now, and we’ll have 3-4 every month starting in January.
By South Park Rooster
December 5, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
Therapy Cafe public relations director: I like that title…
By Fred Flintstonian
December 5, 2009 5:52 AM | Link to this
They would have succeeded if they would have taken my advice and served gellato flavored with beef gravy, Steel Reserve and Marlboros with a bonus lottery ticket with every large order.
By Emily
December 4, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this
@What: No, actually, he happens to be the public relations director. He also books music at Pacchia. So get a clue before you post something idiotic on the internet.
By Not surprised
December 4, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this
This isn’t surprising at all. I never like to see a locally owned business close, but they made it clear to me that they didn’t want my business. On several occasion the employee working was less than friendly and on several other occasions they closed before the posted closing time. After a while, I just gave up trying to support them.
By Dave
December 4, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this
It was a shame… as soon as Dolcessa left the Oregon District all of the galleries opened that probably would have added to their business. As for Brown - something needs to happen down there and that something’s probably UD easing the cost of some of that retail space.
By What?
December 4, 2009 2:15 PM | Link to this
Sure! public relations director=waiter who’s been there the longest.
By EK
December 4, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
They should never have moved from the Oregon District. Brown Street is not a great place for a more upscale dessert place…UD students crave beer and cheap food, not fancy ice cream. I was shocked they moved because they did well for awhile while in the Oregon.
By BigJack
December 4, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
This news is a little old, but still sad. Dolcessa was one of my family’s favorite hangouts. Not only was the gelato great, but they had Boba Tea and delicious paninni’s as well. I wish Jules, Eric and the baby on the way all the best. You are missed already!
By Pat
December 4, 2009 11:08 AM | Link to this
Therapy Cafe has a “public relations director?” What a joke.
By flipper
December 4, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this
Too much gelato will make a boy fato.