Recently-closed Kimberly’s Ice Cream Factory products get second life
By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
Fans of Kimberly’s Ice Cream Factory in Manlius were probably disappointed when they learned the long-time staple for ice cream and chocolate closed in August, but those people can now again get their sweet tooth fixes thanks to Gabrielle Chocolates, a Cazenovia-based business that recently took over the business space at 8240 Cazenovia Road and will produce ice cream from Kimberly’s homemade recipes.
Gabrielle Regan, owner of Gabrielle Chocolate, has been in the cake and chocolatier business for over 20 years, and opened a retail space at 72 Albany Street in Cazenovia about two years ago.
“I had always hoped to open a second location,” said Regan. “I didn’t even know this space was available but when I did I jumped on the opportunity.”
Regan said she worked with Kimberly Bukowski, owner of Kimberly’s Ice Cream, and learned how to make the dozens of ice cream recipes that Bukowski had perfected over the years and customers have come to love. “Making ice cream is a lot of a more complicated process than you would think,” said Regan. “There’s three main phases and it’s pretty labor intensive.”
Bukowski started her business in Cazenovia in 2003, and opened the space in Manlius in 2005 but decided to close it down to spend time with family.
“Gabrielle and I had a great fun making ice cream. She picked up all the secrets to making great ice cream very quickly,” said Bukowski. “The customers were very sad to see the store close and were very hopeful that I could find a buyer. I think Gabrielle was the perfect fit. She will be able to blend her chocolates with my ice cream flavors and keep our customers happy.”
Some of the homemade ice cream flavors offered at the shop include Lemon Creme, Peppermint Pattie, Nuts Around Coconut, Kahula Fudge, Banana, Chunky Peanut Butter Cup, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Cookie Monster White Chocolate, among many others and some seasonal flavors. The shop also offers soft serve, custard, sorbet and no sugar added treats, along with sundaes and ice cream cakes.
In addition to the ice cream, Gabrielle Chocolates will also offer a wall of handmade chocolate truffles made of light, medium and dark chocolate; with caramel, peanut butter, cherries and numerous other fillings. Regan said at the Cazenovia shop, she will begin to sell quarts of the ice cream made at the Manlius shop.
Gabrielle Chocolates in Manlius officially opened on Oct. 4, and Regan said the response from the community has been overwhelming and she even had to expand the shop’s closing time from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. because of the flow of customers.
“We couldn’t keep them out, they just kept coming,” said Regan. “I think a lot of people also plan to come and get dessert after dinner, so we decided to stay open longer than we had planned.”
Regan said her team has been very supportive during this move, and has increased from about eight to 20 employees since opening this new location. Some of the long-time staff members include her daughter and main chocolatier Danielle Regan, weekend manager Jenn Borst and weekday manager Winnie Macheda.
For the future, Regan said she may eventually want to open a third location, but for now will focus on serving her customers in Cazenovia and Manlius.
“I really couldn’t have done it without Kimberly, my incredible staff and all of the customers who have been so willing to support us to far,” said Regan. “I’m very happy with all that has happened. It’s fantastic.”
The second location of Gabrielle Chocolates is located at 8240 Cazenovia Road in Manlius, and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, and is closed Monday. To contact the Manlius location, call 682-0308. The Cazenovia location is located at 72 Albany St. and is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, and is closed Monday. To reach the Cazenovia location, call 655-2469.
