Sundae School To Remain For Foreseeable Future

 The Sundae School Ice Cream Parlor In Harwich Port will remain for the foreseeable future. FILE PHOTO

HARWICH – The Sundae School ice cream parlors in Harwich Port and Dennis Port will be opening in mid-May and the plan is to keep them operating for the foreseeable future.

Over the past year, the planning board held repeated hearings on a proposal to locate 28 condominiums on the 1.7-acre Sundae School parcel at 606 Route 28 in Harwich Port. The outcome of those meetings was a permit issued for a 28-unit multifamily rental complex on that site. The development proposal was met with a lot of neighborhood protest, and displeasure with the loss of a community-loved ice cream parlor. The multifamily development has now been placed on hold and Sundae School will be serving ice cream into the foreseeable future. 

The owners of the Sundae School parlors in Harwich Port and Dennis Port, Rob Demarco and Mike Kelly, have reached an agreement with Nauset Farms owner Peter Gori to take over operations this summer, and the plan is to service ice cream at these locations for the foreseeable future. 

 “When I was approached by Rob to gauge an interest in my leading Sundae School into its next decade and beyond, I didn’t hesitate,” Gori said. “As a Harwich kid who enjoyed his first-ever ice cream cone at the original Dennis Port location, and like many others, Sundae School is a crucial part of my Cape Cod story.”

Sundae School is preparing to reopen both of its ice cream parlor locations in mid-May, and wholesale quart sales will be resuming in some of the area’s retail grocery and specialty markets, including Nauset Farms in East Orleans. Gori said that is a bit of a homecoming, because Sundae School was sold in what was Fancy’s Farm back in the 1980s.

Reflecting on the new partnership, Kelly, a Dennis resident and long-time Sundae School employee, stated, “We will continue doing what we’ve always done; creating lasting memories for generations of Cape Cod locals and visitors by serving the finest ice cream in New England. It’s made fresh daily with real cream, genuine fruit, premium flavorings and imported ingredients, all delivered with a smile.” 

Gori said a strategic partnership has been created that makes a lot of sense. He will be the general manager of the operation.

 “Pete grew up just down the street and brings years of experience in Cape Cod hospitality, combined with his team from Nauset Farms and it’s a perfect match,” according to Kelly. 

This season will be the 50th anniversary of Sundae School serving hard-packed ice cream and handmade sundaes to vacationing families on Cape Cod.

 “We feel incredibly fortunate and excited that Pete shares passion for Sundae School and a deep connection to the Cape,” Demarco, who spent his school-age summers in Dennis Port scooping and making ice cream, noted. “Gori understands the history here and, through his years leading Nauset Farms, he brings a valuable perspective along with real appreciation for what it takes to run businesses like ours on Cape Cod. We couldn’t have planned a better partnership as we head into this milestone anniversary year.” 

The wholesale ice cream production that services area retail stores was shut down this winter, but Gori said they have been busy putting a team together to get that operation up and running again. He said the plan is also to produce ice cream on a year-round basis for the retail outlets.

 “There is a lot of love and significant demand for Sundae School ice cream,” said Gori.

The plan is to keep both parlors open through Columbus Day weekend, but likely only on weekends in September into October.

Gori said they have been busy hiring and re-hiring upward of 100 seasonal employees. Many employees are coming back, he said, and they were successful adding staff when attending a job fair at Cape Tech a few weeks ago. The owners remain committed to being the go-to seasonal job for local teens and college-aged summer residents, as they have been for the past 50 years, he said. Gori added applications for summer jobs can be found at sundaeschool.com.

Thanks to Pete and his team, Sundae School will remain a part of the Harwich Port community for the foreseeable future, continuing to serve the ice cream and experience that so many locals and visitors cherish, DeMarco added.