CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — A Charleston business that sells gelato and more than 30 different flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar is also breathing some new life into a space that formerly occupied the old Blossom Dairy.
“We are kind of a specialty Italian market,” said Kim Rossi, the owner of Stella’s Gelateria Café and Boutique.
Stella’s is located on Hale Street, and a hallway connects it to the old Blossom Dairy site on Quarrer Street. The business had a soft opening in May and will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26. Stella’s has been using the Blossom Dairy space as a place for live music, events and as a seating area.
“We are just trying to get people to understand the connection. We are not the Blossom Dairy. We are using the space to have gatherings,” Rossi said.
Stella’s has light foods such as pepperoni rolls and New York bagels and specialty coffee. Gelato is the primary product, but the business also offers multiple flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar that are stored in bulk and can be bottled in individual sizes after customers do a taste test.
Space can be rented for parties and special events, and there are some special events in the works such as coffee bar tasting and an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting.
Current hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Future plans call for extending hours and to be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekdays except for Sundays.