La Carraia Gelateria Opens First Shop on Long Island

EAST MEADOW, NY — An East Meadow resident and businessman is planning to bring a little taste of Italy to many places on Long Island.

Naveed Ali Haroon opened La Carraia Gelateria, a gelato shop with roots in Florence, at 2326 Hempstead Turnpike, on Sept. 24. The shop is the fourth in North America that includes locations in Orlando, Florida, and Edmonton and Vernon, Canada. A franchise partner of the Canadian group, Haroon envisions expanding the franchise to several local communities.

“If everything works out well, we will definitely spread across Long Island, plus New York City,” he said.

La Carraia carries up to 60 gelato flavors. Two dozen flavors are served and rotated daily, although popular standards such as Stracciatella and Bacio appear in display cases more consistently. Other flavors range from Italian custard to salty peanuts and coffee biscuit to fig and cheese, which customers can indulge on flavored waffle cones. Gelato ingredients are imported from Florence, except dairy and fruits that are sourced locally.

The menu also lists 14 flavors of sorbetto, including strawberry, apricot and green apple. Other options include cakes and pastries, as well as paninis, pizza bites and calzones, all prepared locally. Customers can complement their selections with espressos brewed with Italian beans, lattes, ice teas and refreshers.

Located two doors from Uncle Giuseppe's, the East Meadow shop is done up in green-and-white colors reflecting the company's logo and has a few cherrywood tables and chairs and framed mirrors lining a wall above. While the shop’s website is currently under production, its Instagram page reads, “A good day starts with coffee and ends with our gelato.”

Haroon reports that since opening last month, his shop has had several repeat customers, some of whom come from distant towns.

“When people have found out we are here, some have come down from Great Neck just because they know about this brand,” he said.

Established in 1990, La Carraia has two shops in Florence. The original is located next to the bridge after which the company was named, the Ponte alla Carraia that crosses the Arno River. The five-arched bridge is featured in the company’s logo.