Tracing its history all the way back to Serafino Vivoli’s founding of a milk shop in Florence in 1929, Vivoli Il Gelato has a storied past taking it from Italy to Florida. It opened its first Florida location at Disney Springs in 2015. Now the brand is preparing to expand to a new location in Horizon West’s Flamingo Crossings development.
According to submitted plan review documents, the new gelato shop will open at 153 Sugar Belle Dr, in a space that previously housed Ben & Jerry’s.
“They closed at the end of 2024,” General Manager Gerald Van Buren told What Now in a phone conversation. “We’re doing a full remodel of the front of the house. All our equipment is coming from Italy, along with almost everything front-of-house: the chairs, the tables, all custom-made from Italy. We’re hoping to open in early fall of this year.”
The new location’s color palette will match the recent remodel of the Vivoli’s Disney Springs store. The plan, Van Buren says, is to open with a five-day ramp-up, beginning with friends and family, along with Disney cast members in nearby housing, and then a soft opening followed by the big Grand Opening.
Today’s Flavors for gelati at Vivoli Orlando range from Banana to Cannoli, to Hazelnut, to Salted Caramel. There are also 21+ flavors like Belini and Frosé. You’ll also find six different varieties of Affogato: Original, Pistachio Affogato (Pistachio gelato with a shot of espresso and chopped pistachios), and Cannoli Affogato (Cannoli gelato with a shot of espresso and chopped pistachios).
The new Vivoli Il Gelato will have a flamingo-themed milkshake only available in the Winter Garden location. There will also be some newly imagined sundaes, take-home occasion cakes, and a unique tiramisu affogato. The affogato has cemented Vivoli’s reputation in recent years, said Van Buren.
“That’s what our Florence store went viral for, even though they’d been doing it for decades.”
Opening in the Sugar Belle Drive location, Vivoli Il Gelato will join a food and drink community that includes restaurants like PITA Mediterranean Street Food, 3Natives, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, and more.
You can keep up with all things Vivoli by following @vivoliwintergarden on Instagram.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated after a conversation with General Manager Gerald Van Buren.
