LEHIGHTON, Pa. — The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corp., in partnership with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the grand opening of Nonna’s Ice Cream with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday.
The event, held from 5 to 6 p.m. with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m., welcomed community members, local leaders, and supporters to mark the new addition to Lehighton at 59 Blakeslee Blvd, Dr. E.
Nonna’s Ice Cream is the latest venture from the Caruso family, longtime owners of Pizza Como USA, who have been serving the community for over 50 years. Nino Caruso and his wife, Darcy, purchased the building to relocate their restaurant operation there eventually.
The ice cream shop, named after Darcy Caruso, who goes by “Nonna” to her grandchildren, opened for soft opening on June 24 and has been gradually adding menu items.
The business currently serves 24 flavors of hard ice cream, as well as vanilla and chocolate twist soft serve, and raspberry and pineapple Dole Whip.
The location previously housed the Boulevard restaurant, owned by the Harleman family, which served the community for more than 50 years before closing.
Nonna’s Ice Cream continues the tradition by operating in the same space where Boulevard served ice cream and has begun offering Boulevard’s hot dogs with the original chili sauce recipe.
“We’re basically continuing with what they served the community when they were here for over 50 years,” Darcy Caruso said.
The menu also includes soft pretzels with cheese, and before the school year begins, the business plans to add Boulevard’s chicken and beef barbecue to the offerings.
Darcy Caruso, a teacher at Pleasant Valley, started the business for the summer and is hiring a manager to take over operations when she returns to school. The family plans to eventually bring Pizza Como USA to the other half of the building, though that renovation is expected to take one to two years.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony exceeded expectations, according to Darcy Caruso. The business received certificates from the Carbon County commissioners and the office of U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.
Members of the Harleman family, the former owners of the Boulevard, attended and presented historical items, including original menus that featured items such as 89-cent scallops and 35-cent ice cream sundaes, as well as a worker’s apron from the restaurant’s early days.
The community response has been strong, with many visitors sharing connections to the Boulevard location, where family members have worked for over 65 years.
The business plans to host a “Former Employees Night” on August 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. and a “Date Night” event in September to celebrate these community connections and capture oral histories.
“This event marks a significant milestone for the Caruso family, who have been a cornerstone of the Lehighton community for generations and are committed to offering a community-focused approach and family-friendly experience to their customers,” chamber officials said in a statement.
