Gofer Ice Cream Reopens In Greenwich, Plans Stamford Location

GREENWICH, CT — Gofer Ice Cream, a local ice cream franchise with locations throughout Fairfield County, announced this week its original Greenwich location has reopened following a large fire over a year ago, as well as the planned opening of a new location in Stamford.

In a news release, Gofer Ice Cream Founder and CEO Jay Ragusa said the franchise's first location at 522 East Putnam Avenue reopened this month after a building fire in October 2019 forced the store to close and undergo a 16-month rebuilding process.

The ice cream parlor was originally constructed in 2003 and launched the franchise, which currently operates six locations in Fairfield County.

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"It has been a long road to get to this point, but the end result is the latest and greatest Gofer and franchise prototype," Ragusa said in a news release. "The new shop comes with several upgrades like expanded products, including more soft and hard serve plant-based ice creams, digital menu and promotion boards, and even our own customer restroom. We are grateful the community has stuck with us and we think they will be very happy."

First Selectman Fred Camillo said Friday he was happy to see the original Greenwich shop reopen following the "horrific" fire in 2019.

"[Gofer Ice Cream] has a legion of faithful customers who have been eager to see Jay Ragusa and his staff reopen," Camillo said to Patch. "I certainly wish them much success going forward and a long stay there for many years to come."

See also: Pizza Post Plans Reopening In Greenwich After Huge Fire

Greenwich Chamber of Commerce president Marcia O'Kane also expressed excitement about the Greenwich shop's reopening and noted the timing could not be better.

"Ice cream lovers in town who have been patiently waiting will be thrilled to hear about Gofer's re-opening," O'Kane said to Patch. "The timing couldn't be more perfect with spring and summer not too far away."

Additionally, the company announced this week plans to open a new location in the Ridgeway Shopping Center in Stamford. Located at 2367 Summer Street, the new Stamford shop will serve the downtown area of the city.

Gofer currently operates a location at 869 High Ridge Road that has served the North Stamford area of the city since 2005.

"We have been looking for several years for just the right location in the downtown area [of Stamford]," Ragusa said. "The Ridgeway location offers good walking and driving traffic, ample parking and nice store front visibility. It has it all, and we are excited to open."

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Ragusa, who grew up in Stamford, said he was confident the new location would be successful and, in some ways, reminiscent of a Baskin-Robbins store that operated in the area in the 1980's.

"We have been fairly busy during 2020 and into 2021," Ragusa said, "not only planning several new shops, but renovating our existing locations in Stamford and Cos Cob."

The Ridgeway store will mark the franchise's seventh location in Fairfield County. Gofer Ice Cream also recently opened a New Canaan store in May 2020.

Stamford Chamber of Commerce president Heather Cavanagh said she was excited about both the new Stamford location and the reopening of the original Greenwich store.

"We are so excited for Jay and Gofer Ice Cream for the reopening of their Greenwich location following a 2019 building fire," Cavanagh said to Patch. "As a former executive director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, I had the pleasure of meeting Jay and working together in Darien. He is community driven and serves amazing ice cream. I'm so happy to have him opening a store at the Ridgeway Center in Stamford."