Italian Gelato Shop Chain Coming To New Upper West Side Spot

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Upper West Side is about to get a new family gelato shop.

New signage at the former West Side Kids location on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and West 84th Street announces the upcoming opening of Gelateria Gentile, a family-run gelato spot with a history dating back to the 1800s.

The Italian-based gelateria offers gelati, sorbetti, hot drinks, pastries, and more. Gelato flavors include stracciatella, chocolate, biscotto, peach, golden berry, almond, pistachio, mixed berries, and more.

Gelateria Gentile, which has four other locations in New York City—Williamsburg, the West Village, University Place, and Nolita—originated as a small family-run operation back in Italy.

In 1880, Michele Gentile opened the original Gelateria Gentile as a small kiosk in Bari, a town in southern Italy, continuing her family's longstanding tradition of crafting homemade gelato and pastries, according to the company website.

Since then, "the art of homemade gelato has been handed down for generations, offering a genuine experience, even overseas," their website states.

While there is still no official opening date, a social media post shows that the gelateria's furniture was delivered and assembled earlier this month, suggesting that the wait might soon be over.

Gelateria Gentile is taking over the storefront previously held by the longtime toy store, West Side Kids, which moved locations last year.