Portland Announcement
Letter to Customers | Questions and Answers | Feedback
We know that many of our customers care deeply about how our business operates and the impact it has on our community. We want our growth to be as transparent as possible. To that end, we’ve written answers to some questions that we expect many of you might want to ask.
- Josh and Bruno
1. Why are you opening a store in Portland?
2. Where will the store be located, and when will it open?
3. What will the store look like?
4. And the artwork?
5. Where will the gelato be made?
6. Will anything change at the Brunswick store?
7. Since you’re getting bigger, does this mean that y’all have gone all big-business corporate now? Do I need to start #occupygelato?
8. Will I be able to use my Red Spoon Society account and Brunswick gift cards at the Portland store?
9. What if I want to work at the Portland store?
10. How can I get updates about developments at the Portland store?
11. I have other questions. Where can I ask them?
Why are you opening a store in Portland?
For the past four years, folks from all over have been asking us when we would be moving into their neighborhood. Serious requests have come in from every New England state, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and – no joke – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We decided that if we wanted to grow, we would grow slowly and make sure that the quality of our gelato and service would not be compromised (in fact, we wanted to make it better). After four years running our store in Brunswick and our distribution to partner stores throughout New England, we decided that we were professionally and emotionally ready to open a second store. We received more requests from folks in Portland than any other city, and felt that its historic character and proximity to our employees and customers would make it a perfect fit for our next stage. For more on this topic, see our Letter to Our Customers.
Where will the store be located, and when will it open?
The store will be located at 425 Fore Street in the Old Port neighborhood of Portland (see map). The store is directly next to Five Guys Burgers and Fries and just a few steps from Gritty’s and the Wharf Street restaurant alley that includes Street and Co., Cinque Terre Ristorante, Vignola, and Havana South. It’s also a block away from the Portland Harbor Hotel and TD Bank’s company headquarters.
We expect the store to open in early December 2011. UPDATE: As you might expect, having gelato cases custom-made in Italy, shipped from Italy, imported through U.S. Customs, and installed in Brunswick is a tricky process, even for a couple of charming and smooth-talking dudes. This process has slowed our opening a bit. We should be all set to open sometime during the first week of January.
We anticipate that the new store will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, just like the Brunswick store.
What will the store look like?
We are designing our Portland space to include a beautiful gelato display, a hand-poured coffee and espresso station, and indoor seating. A delightful outdoor mezzanine that will also contain seating. A window will provide guests the chance to look into the kitchen.
Like the Brunswick store, the works at the Portland store are unique pieces and come from The Gelato Fiasco Master Collection, which may be currently secured in a climate-controlled, subterranean undisclosed location.
Where will the gelato be made?
In keeping with our artisanal gelato made fresh daily philosophy, gelato will be made fresh at the store at which it is served. The Portland store will create gelato for Portland, and the Brunswick store will create gelato for Brunswick. Both stores contain full kitchens.
The kitchen team in each store will make its own decisions about which flavors to create each day, and team members will be encouraged to continue to develop new flavors as inspiration strikes.
For now, gelato sold at Hannaford, Roche Bros., and independent grocery stores will be made at the Brunswick store.
Will anything change at the Brunswick store?
The Brunswick store still be our Flagship Store and company headquarters, and you’ll still see the same staff members that you’ve gotten to know over the years. We will continue to try to make the Brunswick store the best it can possibly be.
This growth process has helped us identify areas where we can provide better service at the Brunswick store. For instance, we realized that our menu boards can be unclear, and we made new ones for the Flagship Store. All of our team members are also receiving advanced education on coffee-making techniques. And we hope to increase the volume of material that is recycled. In effect, the prospect of growth has forced us to think critically about areas where we might not be providing 100 percent excellent service and improve our game.
If you have suggestions for either store, please email us at delicious@gelatofiasco.com.
Since you’re getting bigger, does this mean that y’all have gone all big-business corporate now? Do I need to start #occupygelato?
No way! We’re still a super-small company that’s comprised of Josh and Bruno; a team of artistic gelato makers; a team of friendly gelato servers; and a few other folks. If there’s a corner office around here, you’ll have to draw us a map so we can find it.
When Josh and Bruno first started thinking about The Gelato Fiasco in 2007, they visited more than two dozen banks to find someone who would lend them start-up money. They finally ended up with a loan that was provided by a Maine-based bank and backed up by a Small Business Administration program. The success of the company so far has been entirely thanks to hard and careful work by our employees; the loyalty of an enthusiastic group of customers who’ve supported us when we’ve done well and when we’ve made mistakes; and a good deal of luck.
Will I be able to use my Red Spoon Society account and Brunswick gift cards at the Portland store?
We hope so. It’s ultimately a technology question, and we’re working to get everything sorted out. We will update here as we know more.
What if I want to work at the Portland store?
We have not officially posted positions for this location, but we welcome inquiries from particularly enthusiastic potential employees. Please send a note and a copy of your resume to jobs@gelatofiasco.com.
How can I get updates about developments at the Portland store?
Please make sure you’re on our email list and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
I have other questions. Where can I ask them?
Email us at delicious@gelatofiasco.com. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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