CT Ice Cream Shop Closes Due To Protracted Legal Battle With Town

BROOKLYN, CT — Following years of legal strife with the town, The Ice Box & Sütő closed last weekend.

"Dinosaurs, the Roman Empire, 1990’s frosted tips, The Ice Box & Sütő Brooklyn, CT location… Proof that nothing lasts forever," the owners wrote on Instagram.

The owners, the Nemeths, have been wrapped up in lawsuits with the town for more than four years. Legal fees running over $150,000 have drained the South Main Street businesses, Hearst Connecticut reported.

The owners said in an Instagram post: "So when the BFD/EBFD/Town of Brooklyn upped the anti in the battle against us AGAIN this week we’ve decided to shift the universe and say ya’ know what, four out of our five years in business while being terrorized by our town government is enough."

However, Brooklyn First Selectman Austin Tanner said he was concerned about how the town is being portrayed and said that many of the claims against it "aren't true," Hearst Connecticut reported. He said that both sides are "dragging it out" and that "they're suing us," which he said was part of the legal process.

The disagreement began over the usage of the property's driveway, which is shared with the East Brooklyn Fire Department. The Nemeths said that the issues began when they were making upgrades to the Sütő property. A suit was filed regarding parking on the property, NBC Connecticut reported.

Jenn Nemeth told NBC Connecticut that the financial burden due to an injunction was "just unbelievable."

But this isn't the end of the story for The Ice Box. The shop has been courted by "a few towns for years," according to the Instagram post.

"I’ve been holding out hope the powers that be here in Brooklyn would get their act together to do the right thing. Since that’s not happening, we’re going to start seriously entertaining those other offers. We can’t wait to pop back up in a business-friendly town asap & get back to the work that fills our (and our community’s) bucket."

The shop has gained a significant following: a Facebook post regarding the closing garnered 972 reactions and 95 comments.