East Windsor Institution To Close After 66 Years Of Delicious Business

EAST WINDSOR, CT — Dari Delite, an institution that has lasted for nearly seven decades on the East Windsor/South Windsor line, will soon be closing, according to the business owners.

The ice cream stand, founded in 1956 by Julia and Frank Shonosky and Margaret Preston, has been situated in a small building at 301 South Main Street, straddling the towns' border, since day 1. About 11 years ago, Preston's daughter, Julie Cortese, and her cousin Frank Dziedziak took over the operation.

On Sunday, Cortese posted a lengthy message on the stand's Facebook page.

"Well, this hasn't been an easy decision but this will be the last year for the Dari Delite," she wrote. "Business has been off, our soft serve ice cream machine is one step from giving up and we're old and tired. It has been a good run of almost 66 years. Times and families have changed. Piling into a car for a family treat is now a thing of the past. Meeting friends at the DD is no longer a thing. So, it's time to make this our last year."

She continued, "We do want to thank everyone for the many years we were open. It wouldn't have been possible without your support. We loved hearing about all the fond memories through the generations. We hope to see you before we close."

Dziedziak said the final day will likely be in late August.

"We're basically breaking even, and for old people, it's not worth it," he said. "I like the kids who work here, giving them their first job. I will probably miss that the most."