'Save The Ice Cream': Customers Rally Behind Gabriel's Fountain

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater community and ice cream lovers are coming together to help out a landmark in the township. A fundraiser was started by a customer after three freezers broke down at Gabriel's Fountain.

The restaurant and ice cream shop at 1948 Washington Valley Rd. is owned by Bridgewater family man Alex Alb.

Alb said one of the walk-in freezers started acting up on Saturday, June 5.

"We thought it was just working weird but then it totally broke down on Sunday," said Alb.

Then a second walk-in freezer broke on Tuesday, June 8.

Alb scrambled to buy deep freezers from Lowes and got dry ice and scuba gear to be able to handle the ice to try and save their beloved ice cream.

"We thought we were out of woods and then we lost our main case of ice cream. We came in on Sunday morning and the ice cream was melting.

A company was called in to try and repair the three freezers but was unable to and parts on order are backed up. Luckily, Alb said they were able to save the ice cream by "MacGyvering" a contraption to keep the freezers working.

"We found a way to use it but it is cumbersome. It takes a lot of manual intervention to keep it running and we have to break it down every night," said Alb.

Alb said they are looking at ways to repair the freezers or buying used ones but he is not sure that is the most logical route and is considering purchasing new ones, which would cost about $20,000.

Kristen Barber of Martinsville, a regular customer of Gabriel's heard about their struggles and started a GoFundMe website to raise funds to help them out.

"I thought since 2020 was a crappy year for most businesses that it would be nice for us to chip in to help them get a new freezer to 'Save the ice cream'!" said Barber on the GoFundMe site. "They did so much to help the community during COVID, it just feels right to do the same for them. All businesses have been hit hard this past year, things may be getting better now but that doesn’t mean last year didn’t hurt them. Having to shell out money for new equipment shouldn’t have to hurt them more! Let’s make it easier for them!"

Alb said Barber's gesture to create the fundraiser was "amazingly flattering."

"It is definitely flattering to see the response from our customer base," said Alb.

"I see Gabriel's Fountain as a pillar of our community. They have a long history with us in Bridgewater and they stayed open through huge struggles during last year's lockdown," said Allison Silvestro who donated.

Alb initially wanted to donate the money but now feels they may have to apply it towards the freezers.

"We are so stressed out and thinking about the big bill hanging over our heads maybe we will decide to use it for what people intended it for," said Alb.

Alb, who has donated to the community time and time again, says that when the dust settles he does want to pay this forward in some way.

To learn more about the fundraiser or to donate click here. For more information about Gabriel's Fountain visit gabrielsfountain.com or Facebook or Instagram.

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