A new ice cream parlor has opened in downtown Shelton, serving specialty French-style ice cream and frozen yogurt.
Dave & Dave’s Ice Cream Shop serves ice cream made by Milford-based Buck’s Ice Cream, according to Shelton caterer David Grant, who started the business with his son, David.
He said French-style ice cream is made with egg yolks, which gives it a richer taste, and Buck’s is not sold in stores.
Dave & Dave’s is at 507 Howe Ave., two doors away from Stockbridge’s Gourmet Cheesecakes.
Click here for the business’ Facebook page.
Grant said the idea for the business came when he was in negotiations to buy the building last year, and owner Tony Della Monica suggested putting an ice cream parlor in the vacant storefront, formerly a dog grooming business.
He said with the new apartments and condominiums opening soon on Canal Street it sounded like a good idea.
Grant said the location was occupied by candy store in the 1930s and 1940s, when it sold treats to film patrons going to see a show at Shelton’s downtown movie theater, which is also long gone.
Grant is a longtime caterer who will celebrate his 40th year in business next year.
“I graduated from college and went right into business,” he said.
At the time, his father, Bill Grant, owned the Redwood Inn, a restaurant on River Road, where he had worked since he was 14.
His father was too young to retire in 1974, so instead of taking over the restaurant, Dave started his own business.
During Saturday morning’s soft opening, while the first patrons trickled in to sample the ice cream, a teenager filled out a job application form.
Grant said he expects to provide up to 20 part-time jobs for teenagers this summer.
Dave & Dave’s will hold a grand opening in the next two weeks, he said.
Hours are Monday to Thursday, 2 to 9 p.m., Friday 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 9 p.m.