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Gannon’s Ice Cream Prepares for Summer Gannon's Ice Cream Prepares for Summer

By TJ O'Sullivan

TJ O’Sullivan: IN SYRACUSE, WHEN THIS LIGHT GOES ON, PEOPLE KNOW IT’S TIME FOR A SWEET TREAT. GANNON’S ICE CREAM HAS BEEN A STAPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR GENERATIONS.
Jesse: “My mom lived across the street when she was younger, she’s been coming. And when she had me, we’ve been going. We haven’t really gone anywhere else.”
O’Sullivan: IN 1982, JOHN AND EILEEN GANNON OPENED THIS STORE ON VALLEY DRIVE, THE FIRST OF TWO LOCATIONS THAT SERVE DOZENS OF FLAVORS OF HOMEMADE ICE CREAM. NEW EMPLOYEE, KAYDEN, SAYS IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK.
Kayden: “Everybody is nice people. They welcome you when you come in, everybody’s welcoming. It’s just a good experience and a good place to be at.”
O’Sullivan: THE SENTIMENT IS SHARED BY MANAGER NORA.
Nora Kilmartin: “It just feels very like a community of people. Like I said, my older sister always worked here. A lot of people have had their families or cousins work here, so it’s just very, like, family style. Yeah.”
O’Sullivan: WHILE THE STORE DOES GET BUSIER AS THE SUN GOES DOWN, NORA SAYS THERE’S NO TIME LIMIT ON GRABBING A CUP OR A CONE.
Kilmartin: “People come late at night, yeah. They love it. All times of the day. We even– I’m surprised we have people at 11:30 A.M., ’cause for me that’s very early for ice cream. But we always get people, like kids out of school, or on their summer, or after the park, or something.”
O’Sullivan: KAYDEN SAYS WHAT MAKES GANNON’S SPECIAL IS THAT IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ICE CREAM.
Kayden: “It just brings me back to when I was, like, a little kid and I was going to get ice cream with my dad. I just look back at it… it’s good memories.”
SO HOW IS THE ICE CREAM? FOR THAT, I WENT TO THE EXPERTS.
Ollie: “It’s homemade.”
Gabe: “It’s nice and melty.”
OSullivan: SHORT AND SWEET, BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE ICE CREAM TO EAT.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– Gannon’s Ice Cream has begun its summer season, and the line is already getting long each night.

Since 1982, Gannon’s has provided the Syracuse area with sweet treats. With dozens of flavors to choose from, it is not difficult to see why families like Jesse’s have been going for generations.

“My mom lived across the street when she was younger, she’s been coming,” said Jesse, a long-time customer. “We haven’t really gone anywhere else.”

Gannon’s manager, Nora Kilmartin, says Gannon’s is something she looks forward to each summer. She attends Fordham University in the fall and spring semesters, then returns home to Syracuse to work the store.

“It just feels like a community,” said Kilmartin. “My older sister always worked here. A lot of people have had their families or cousins work here.”

As for when the best time to head into the store is, Kilmartin says anytime is the best time.

“People come late at night, they love it,” said Kilmartin. “All times of the day… I’m surprised we have people at 11:30 A.M., because for me that’s very early for ice cream.”

According to the website, Gannon’s is open seven days a week from noon to 9 P.M. at both locations.

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