For greater than 4 a long time, Gelotti Ice Cream has stood on the nook of Union Avenue in Paterson as one thing far larger than a dessert store. It has been a landmark of sweetness, a gathering place, a keeper of custom, and—maybe most of all—a testomony to a household whose dedication constructed an establishment one scoop at a time.
Inside, the air hums with a well-known mix of espresso, sugar, and nostalgia. It’s the scent of summers passed by—of youngsters tugging on their mother and father’ sleeves, of households gathering after faculty performs or Sunday dinners. However on the day of his interview, as second-generation proprietor Robert Sigona stepped into the again room to replicate on the 41-year journey of his father’s dream, that acquainted air carried one thing heavier: pleasure, reminiscence, and the load of legacy.
Robert isn’t somebody simply undone. Broad-shouldered and firm-jawed, he’s a person who has spent most of his life behind the counter or beside his father, Salvatore Sigona, studying each screw, swap, and secret that retains Gelotti working. However when requested about his father’s work ethic—concerning the late nights, the early mornings, and the quiet sacrifices—his voice caught.
“He constructed this with nothing however grit,” Robert mentioned, his eyes lingering on the store ground past the doorway. “Folks don’t perceive how a lot he gave… how a lot he pushed. He devoted his complete life so this place may stand tall—so we may give folks one thing to smile about.”
These smiles have by no means stopped. What started as a single store in 1984 has grown into what Robert proudly calls “a frozen confection paradise… the alpha and omega of frozen treats.” Gelotti shortly turned identified for doing what others weren’t prepared to do—sourcing elements from world wide, innovating lengthy earlier than developments hit mainstream, and crafting desserts with a degree of experience and pleasure that made the Sigona title synonymous with high quality.
Lengthy earlier than plant-based desserts stuffed menus nationwide, Gelotti rolled out vegan choices. Earlier than America’s obsession with sugar-free manufacturers, Salvatore was quietly perfecting theirs. They added pastries, created novelties just like the beloved Lil Chippies and Lil Cones, and, in 2025, elevated the store even additional by introducing espresso sourced instantly from Italy—one other nod to their heritage.
However Gelotti has by no means been nearly desserts. For Paterson and the encompassing communities, it has been a continuing, a dependable pal. The Sigonas have supported native sports activities groups, church buildings, faculties, charities, and cultural teams not as a result of it was good enterprise, however as a result of it was the suitable factor to do.
“We promote smiles,” Robert mentioned merely. “It’s not simply ice cream. It’s an expertise—a second of pleasure we get to create for somebody.”
Regardless of 4 a long time of success, Robert’s willpower hasn’t dimmed. If something, it burns hotter. “I wish to shock folks,” he mentioned with a gradual edge. “I need those that missed my father’s work to lastly perceive what we constructed. I need Gelotti to be acknowledged as the usual—the normal—for high quality, selection, and expertise.”
But even in his ambition, Robert’s loyalty to Paterson stays immovable. Gelotti is, and at all times will probably be, a homegrown treasure—a melting pot of flavors for a melting pot group. And as households collect this season underneath the neon-green signal with its cherry-topped i, they received’t simply be celebrating ice cream.They’ll be celebrating the Sigona household—pillars of Paterson, stewards of sweetness, and keepers of a 41-year legacy nonetheless being written, one scoop at a time.
