I posted about this store about two years ago. Being in Healesville recently I thought I would give it another shot. I must say I was not surprised to find out the business had closed down as it had gone in the red and no established neighbouring business was willing to pick it up. Locals are loyal when the business resonates with the atmosphere of the community -laid back, free spirited and light hearted, none of which could be found at this store. Better luck with your next endevour.
This business has some things going for it but some of the fundamentals need work. For a business that has gelato as its main product it's missing the fun! The place expects you to,order your gelato without having the opportunity to look at it. There is a line and once at the top you can place your order however you can't look at the gelato prior because you will come out of the line. It was quite humorous to watch kids causing 'havoc' to this structure over the weekend as the staff were getting exasperated by the lack of order. Seems to me the kids have it right, you have a visual product, let people see it, let them indulge in the colours as they anticipate the taste. For a product that is meant to be fun, the place felt up tight.
Dear deel11,
Thanks for your feedback. In fact the system in place of getting a receipt which you then pass to the staff serving gelato is extremely common in Italy. It has a hygiene reason as it's driving force. With one person handling money, there should be no contamination of the gelato and serving staff can keep their hands clean. We have had in the past people handing money across the counter and because of this on one occasion I had to throw out an entire pan of gelato I had not long made because a coin rolled into it. If you google 'money' and 'bacteria' I'm sure you will understand my rational. Once at the head of the line, we allow you to taste what you like before making a selection. Hopefully what you tasted was good as I constantly take customer feedback (especially from our local Healesville customers who visit several times a week and also thanks to whom we made it through the winter) and modify the tastes and flavour accordingly.
Brunetti in Carlton also operates this system.
In some gelateria in Italy, the gelato is served from a pozzetto which hides the gelato completely and is also a very traditional way of serving, not to mention much better for hygiene and temperature control. My local gelateria in Italy had a beautiful pozzetto counter and wonderful no nonsense gelato. Italians generally know what the gelato is like without having to see it. (The gelateria in Spring Street Melbourne run but an Italian from Torino has pozzetti).
I aim to please taste buds and as a new business we are still growing and finding our way, but I have to say that the way in which Healesville has welcomed and embraced us sums up the word 'community' more than any other place I have ever lived. The fun comes in the realtor ships we have established with our regular customers and the brief relationship we can make with the people passing through.
Sincerely,
Davydd.
Dear deel11,
I was reflecting on your feedback again today as it was very busy and there was a queue for most of the afternoon. If people queued up for gelato and paid after, it would still be the same as you wouldn't see the gelato until you got to the display case. I would love to have a bigger display case but will have to wait a few years once we have really established ourselves. As the system operates now, the queue snakes around past the cabinet and comes around. Also, having our flavour board outside gives people the chance to see what we have before they come in. Today being hot, I was thinking that if it weren't as it is now, the queue would be out the door and people would have to wait in the heat rather than inside where it's cooler. As for your amusement at my staff's exasperation, they were only trying to adhere to my system of money handling. The responsibility is mine and mine alone as owner and food safety supervisor. I would rather this be the case than risk contaminating a product, which I put a great deal of heart, soul and effort into making, resulting in any customers falling ill.
Again yours sincerely,
Davydd
We are so lucky to have this recently opened and new gem of a Gelato shop in Healesville. The Gelato and Sorbetto are hand made on the premises and you can watch Davydd make them. They taste absolutely divine and from first visit you are in trouble as there is no way you can resist regularly popping in for more!
Wonderful friendly service and warm atmosphere, they also do great coffee from a machine that is a work of art and food and cakes if you feel like something else besides Gelato.
Veronica and Davydd we wish you success and thanks for choosing Healesville, even if my waist probably won't thank you !
Dear Dave,
I have just 'joined' this hence my tardy reply. Thanks for your feedback. Unfortunately, there is now time for the soup, pastries and cakes as it's 100 % gelato making for me now until perhaps next April or May.
Sincerely,
Davydd
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