Sweet Ashley's Opens For 2025 Season In Norwalk, Introduces Coffee

NORWALK, CT — Sweet Ashley's Handcrafted Ice Cream, a longtime spring, summer and fall favorite on East Avenue, reopened for its 2025 season this week with some brand new menu items for customers to try.

Owner Frank Lanzo, who took over the 33-year-old business with his wife, Judie, in 2023, said the popular ice cream shop now also features a coffee bar with coffee and espresso items available.

"We're using a company called Tostini from Italy," Lanzo said to Patch. "It's a premium coffee. We always have a light roast and a dark roast, and we'll do some decaf. We've also been doing some espresso as well."

Also on the menu now is affogato, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso with whipped cream and a biscotti, a product Lanzo said "just had to be done" once they introduced coffee and espresso to the store.

"Affogatos are kind of the next up and coming thing," Lanzo said. "They've been around for a little bit, but people really don't exploit them. I figured with our handcrafted ice cream, we have a great ice cream, and with a premium espresso it'd be great."

He also noted the popular ice cream and espresso combination should be especially great for customers to enjoy during the chillier early spring and late fall months.

Sweet Ashely's is currently open from mid-March to late November each year.

"We put a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money into bringing [the store] back [each year]," Lanzo said, "and we're very excited...you just kind of have to go with the flow."

Lanzo also emphasized that all of Sweet Ashley's ice cream is still made in small batches in house. Customers can also enjoy custom cakes and make flavor requests any time they wish.

"We don't outsource anything," Lanzo said.

In addition to many returning favorite flavors, Lanzo teased a new flavor developed with the team at Sunset Grille in East Norwalk: Butterfudge Crunch a vanilla-based ice cream with swirls of waffle cone chips, butterscotch and fudge.

Customers who wish to sample this new flavor can currently enjoy it at Sweet Ashley's.

"We're looking forward to a great year," Lanzo said. "Come in and come say hello, we're here for you. If you need something, Sweet Ashley's has your back, at least the best we can."