Popular Ice Cream Shop Plans Move To Cheshire Arts Center: Report

CHESHIRE, CT — A popular local ice cream shop has committed to be the first tenant of the planned Ball & Socket Arts center in Cheshire, according to the New Haven Register.

Luther Turmelle of the Register reports Sweet Claude’s has committed to relocate from 828 South Main St. to Ball & Socket’s Building No. 2 at the corner of Willow Street and West Main Street.

A local non-profit group has been working for several years to transform the historic Ball & Socket factory into an arts center. Ball & Socket Arts was founded by three Cheshire High School graduates (Class of 1986) – Ilona Somogyi, Kevin Daly and Jeffrey Guimond.

“We are working to transform the historic Ball & Socket factory in Cheshire, CT into a world-class arts and entertainment complex housing art galleries, performing spaces, studio and co-work spaces, restaurants and retail establishments,” reads a statement from the founders on the Ball & Socket website. “When operational, Ball & Socket Arts will present its own curated exhibitions and programs, and offer our spaces to other arts and community service organizations, both professional and amateur, for meetings, events and presentations of their work.

“We hope Ball & Socket will become a hub of arts and community activity where passionate people can discover, work and learn alongside one other for the betterment of all.”

Fundraising for the project launched in 2017 and plans call for the first phase to open by the end of June, but several hurdles need to be cleared first, according to the Register.

Read more at the New Haven Register here.

For more information on the Ball & Socket Arts project, visit its website here and on Facebook here.