Toronto gelato shop closing after 12 years as owner prepares to leave city forever
It's the end of an era for Lola's Gelato, a beloved Toronto gelato and coffee shop that has served the Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood for the past 12 years.
The team took to its official Instagram account to share the news with its devout followers, thanking customers for their "unwavering support" and confirming the closing date.
Owner Daniela Zomparelli first opened Lola's Gelato in 2014, ready to start something new following a longstanding career in the film industry.
Her idea for a gelato shop came from her high school job at Baskin-Robbins: "When people come to get ice cream, they're always happy," she tells blogTO. That desire to make people happy led to a 12-year run as a gelato shop owner.
"But it's time to move to the next chapter," she says.
"I will miss this neighbourhood. I will miss making new flavours. But owning a business comes with a lot of sacrifices, and I now want parts of my life back," she continues.
Part of that means finally moving into a dream house in Elora, Ontario. "My husband and I purchased a pre-built in Elora, pre-COVID, so we're taking the dog and moving into our new home," Zomparelli says.
Though the decision to close the shop is not financially driven, Zomparelli does admit that "it's hard owning a small business in Toronto, especially with the current political climate. You never know what's going to happen next. There is so much unpredictability when it comes to suppliers, too."
So, what happens to Lola's Gelato?
"I own the space, and we're still figuring out what's going to happen next. But there is interest from other businesses to open a gelato spot here," Zomparelli confirms. "My sister actually owns Gelato North here in Toronto, and they're seriously considering opening up another branch at this location."
However, Zomparelli stresses that no future plans are cemented for the location, or Gelato North, for that matter. For now, the Lola's Gelato team is focusing on serving their ever-so-popular gelato flavours in the Humber Bay area for the last time.
There's been an outpouring of support and well wishes from customers in the comments section of the announcement post on Instagram since Zomparelli shared it.
"Lola's became such a wonderful tradition in our household," someone wrote, while another says, "Who is going to make fig and labneh gelato now? You were the best!"
The shop's last day is Oct. 12, but for now, it is open on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Lola’s Gelato is located at 14B Bookers Ln.
Lola's Gelato
