Location of New Leatherby's Revealed

Elk Grove ice cream lovers have been all aflutter with the news of a Leatherby's Family Creamery coming to town.

On Tuesday, Mayor Steven Detrick revealed the future location of the ice cream parlor: the old Mandango's Sports Bar building in the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center, near the intersection of Laguna Blvd and Laguna Springs Drive.

Detrick made the announcement at a campaign fundraiser for his 2012 city council race, and it was confirmed by Thad Johnson of Pappas Investments, which owns the property.

Johnson said Leatherby's market surveys showed a large percentage of customers at the local ice cream chain's Arden location come from Elk Grove.

The family-oriented restaurant "is probably a better fit" for the shopping center than the sports bar was, Johnson said.

The Elk Grove location is set to open in Spring 2012 and will employ about 75 workers, said Leatherby's president Alan Leatherby.