A little Bay Ridge ice cream parlor got a big thank you when politicians stopped by to bestow the shop with a certificate of achievement for its 115th anniversary — and grab a few sundaes — on March 2.
State Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) was among the pols who feted the Anopoli Ice Cream Parlor and Family Restaurant on Third Avenue, bestowing owner Steve Saviolaki and his son Manny with a certificate of achievement for their restaurant’s anniversary — a big surprise for the old ice cream shop.
“I knew something was going to happen,” said Manny. “But I didn’t know it was going to be all that. It was very well appreciated by me and my family.”
The soda shop between Ovington Avenue and 69th Street celebrated its grand opening way back in 1897, serving a grand total of five flavors of ice cream. Saviolaki bought the store in 1995 after immigrating from Greece, and expanded the shop to include a full restaurant menu and 11 additional ice cream flavors — including its made-from-scratch specialty, maple walnut — while maintaining that old-school ice cream parlor feel.
“People feel at home here,” said Manny. “You feel the atmosphere, the hospitality — try a scoop of this, a scoop of that — we make people happy.”
These days the Saviolakis sell their scoops for $2.25 — not too shabby, but a it’s far cry from the nickle-a-cone prices paid by 19th-century Brooklynites.
The prices may have changed, but the shop itself remains a little scoop of the Brooklyn that was.
“We have pictures on the wall from 1930 and you can tell just by looking at them, nothing has changed,” said Manny. “You can match the counters, the tiling on the floor, the woodwork — it’s all original.”
Sen. Golden’s visit was a couple days early, however; the actual anniversary date was March 7.
Anopoli Ice Cream Parlor and Family Restaurant [6920 Third Ave. between Ovington Avenue and 69th Street in Bay Ridge, (718) 748-3863].
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
