Caramello to Reopen Soon as Cafe Sant Edesia
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 7:47AM
Caramello, the year-and-a-half-old gelato and baked goods shop on Fifth between Union and Berkeley, closed down unexpectedly at the end of September. A note went up on their Facebook page soon after saying that "things are a brewin,'" and since then there's been sporadic work in the space but no real word on what's going on.
I did some digging and was able to track down Benny, the owner, who filled me in on the situation. He said that they've renamed the shop Cafe Sant Edesia, and it should be back in business in about a week or so. There will still be baked goods and coffee, along with bagels, salads, sandwiches, and free wifi. Disappointingly, the wide selection of gelato options has been cut drastically, and the large gelato case has been removed to make way for a communal table. Benny was previous owner/ gelato maker Nicoletta Grippo's business partner, but she's no longer associated with the shop and it appears as if she was forced out over financial issues.
While her gelato was delicious, he made it clear that there were too many varieties available, and because they weren't selling well the selection had to be cut back (most likely the price of the top-notch ingredients was high as well). It seems like a handful of selections will still be available, but I'm not sure if it will be made on-premises.
The gelato was arguably the best part of Caramello, but when it reopens it appears as if it'll be essentially be a completely new shop, more a place to hang out with your laptop, a bagel, and a coffee than a place to stop into and get a gelato and pastry to go.
Until then, they're hiring!
Coming Soon in Food, Scoops, Storefronts
Reader Comments (15)
So it's going to be exactly the same as it's across the street neighbor, Kondatori, except without any existent clientele, and run by the same people who decided to put the ice-cream case in the back of an ice cream store?
6 months.
Do these kinds of closing->renovation->reopen situations ever result in anything other than a slow painful death for the underlying business? Can anyone recall a situation where a business has survived after doing this?
Why do people always feel the need to post such negative things? Ever own a business? Have any idea the impact on a person's life once they've invested everything they have? Ever make a mistake yourself?
I wish the new place success!
The gelato was better than L'Albero dei gelati. That's why people came. Now if sounds like another stupid park slope mediocre neither this nor that kinda place with nothing special to allow it to stand out.
@INA Stop looking in the mirror and describing yourself. I agree with JP wait and try the place before you spew your venom.
No question some of the commentary can be harsh but frankly if I was a retailer setting up shop I'd want to hear it. Obviously it isnt a representative sample of the neighborhood but feedback can help.
The idea that people should just shut-up, wish them well and follow the golden rule sounds nice, but it isnt what is going to keep the place in business. Knowing what (some) people in the neighborhood are thinking is a valuable resource (not easily available in decades past). Nobody wants to hear criticism but I'd rather hear that, then the sound of the Marshall seizing my store.
The baker and gelato maker need to get whatever funds or small business grants are necessary to re-open their own business as soon as possible. The quality of both was absolutely some of the best in Brooklyn, especially that gelato. Other than Ample Hills, no one could touch that quality of frozen stuff. It almost overshadowed what was starting to become a serious cookie selection that was out Momofuku-ing Momofuku.
Seriously, they should stop on in to Bogota and get a few lessons on how to make small business grants work for you from some damn smart small business minds. That gelato and those cookies were gold. Re-opening without them? Lunacy. Force the cafe aspect out next time.
I agree with bklynmind and Ted Nelson.
That was THE BEST gelato in Brooklyn and one of the best in the city. Their gelato and the superb pastries were worth every penny.
Jbob: you wanted this place to fail and kept touting L'Albero like it was the next coming and now to be contrary you say shut up to those who think this new incarnation is a shabby attempt to reincarnate? Really?
Seriously, that pastry chef and gelato maker need to find a new partner because although L'Albero has fine gelato, it's nothing like Caramello. Their main problem was the layout of the space. No one knew the gelato was back there and L'Albero has it all hanging out on the street (which is smart, mind you!).
Pinkberry is better than all these places, even Culture. hands. down.
@Ted Caramello did suck and it was clear the moment that L'Albero opened that it would be pushed out. However I didnt have an opinion of it until it opened and I went in and tried it. If it was so great, why were so many flavors not selling?
True theres little innovative about the new approach but thats really the only conclusion you can draw from this post. I love to hear business " experts" talking about how they need to bring back gelato in a neighborhood so completely saturated with frozen desserts.
If their product is good and the setting is nice theyll do well. If not they wont. Your total conjecture is meaningless.
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