Iconic Meriden Ice Cream Parlor To Open For Season This Month

MERIDEN, CT — Les' Dairy Bar will open for the season later this month, after new owners had a strong year in 2021. The ice cream parlor posted on Facebook that they will be returning March 23.

The ice cream shop has a six-decade history in Meriden. Debra DiGiandomenico, who owned the shop for 38 years, sold it to new owners Amanda and Francis Hamilton last year.

Amanda Hamilton told the Meriden Record-Journal she was surprised by the number of people who thanked them for continuing Les' tradition.

The post on reopening has more than 700 likes and more than 60 comments. One person wrote: "My best childhood memories walking or riding g bike from grandparents house on Sunset Ave to get ice cream cone back in 70s."

It appeared that Les' was going to close after the 2019 season, but then DiGiandomenico announced the shop would open again in 2020 after receiving an outpouring of support from the community.

Les' history as an ice cream shop extends back to 1956, when the spot was opened as a a Dari-Delite franchise, according to The Record-Journal. The business was sold to Les Anderson, who changed its name. Rose and Albert DiGiandomenico bought the ice cream parlor in 1976 and later handed it over to Deb DiGiandomenico.

See related: Popular Meriden Ice Cream Shop To Return Soon