Local Family Readies To Unveil New Ben & Jerry's In Riverhead: 'Something To Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth'

RIVERHEAD, NY — A sweet scoopery is set to make its debut in Downtown Riverhead: Ben & Jerry's is slated to celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and festivities on Friday, July 11, beginning at 1 p.m.

Ben and Jerry's is located at 87 East Main Street in Riverhead.

"We are very excited to celebrate this official opening and welcome the Siliato family to Riverhead and the Chamber of Commerce! They are a perfect fit for our amazing downtown and are destined for great success," said Connie Lassandro, RCOC president.

At the grand opening, Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard will be on hand to cut the ribbon and welcome the family-owned business to the downtown canvas. Those in attendance will also receive free samples of signature and seasonal flavors; giveaways will include branded T-shirts, pint coolers, water bottles and reusable spoon sets

Owned and operated by Wading River residents Angela and Steven Siliato, along with their children, Gianni, Mia and Marco, the shop "aims to be a warm neighborhood gathering spot. From classic favorites like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey to inventive seasonal creations, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth," the RCOC said.

"We grew up with Ben & Jerry’s — it’s always brought people together," said Angela Siliato. "Now, we’re excited to bring that magic right into our hometown. We want this to be a place where memories are made — one scoop at a time."

Ben & Jerry’s is a Vermont-based ice cream brand founded in 1978, known for its creative flavors, social activism, and commitment to community.

And those are the values that the Siliato family embraces as they set to open in an iconic destination, the longtime site of Sunny's Riverhead Diner & Grill.

In a previous interview Steven Siliato, a lawyer, told Patch that opening the shop seemed like a natural next step on his family's journey. "I grew up in a family business — we own a liquor store," he said. "It has been in our family for 50 years, and it was started by my dad. My wife and I wanted our kids to grow up in a family business, too, for many reasons. Plus, who does not love ice cream?" he laughed.

His wife Angela Siliato is actually the owner of the new business, and the couple said their kids "are just as much of a part of this as we are."

For years, the former diner's location was woven into hearts and memories; the downtown mainstay had been located in Riverhead since 1932, and closed due to the pandemic.

Next, the spot was occupied by LuchaCubano and then, Burgercade.

The spot holds deep meaning for the Siliatos. "The history of this location is amazing. While we are bringing a different concept, it is our understating that the dinner was a family run business for a very long time — so it's just a natural fit for our family. We want the family legacy to continue in this space. We live in the community, so this spot was very important to us."

Siliato told Patch that the love of Ben & Jerry's is a family affair, with all having their own favorite flavors. "My favorite is Dirt Cake, but it just got retired. So it is either Milk & Cookies or Marshmallow Sky for me. My wife loves Half Baked and my kids love Milk & Cookies and Phish Food."

Ben & Jerry's founders and childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield grew up in Merrick, on Long Island, Siliato said. "They really tried to create a fun, family friendly company. For us, everything comes back to family. That is the most important part of our life."

Siliato reflected on the couple's dreams for the new business: "It's for our kids, so they can learn about hard work, dedication, determination, reaching for their goals and being part of the community. That is very important — we want to be part of our community's transformation."

Opening in Riverhead was important to his family, Siliato said: "We live here and it is our community. We want to be a small part of the transformation."

For his future customers, Siliato has a message: "While we have a corporate name behind us, we are a family-owned and run business. We live in the community, and we want to be a part of making people smile with ice cream!"

Hours are as follows:

Summer Hours (July and August):

• Monday to Thursday: noon to 10 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: noon to 11 p.m.
• Sunday: noon to 10 p.m.

School-Year Hours (September through June)

Adjusted after Labor Day.