Tutti Gelato shop now open in former Central Coffee spot in South End

Driving the news: Tutti Gelato opened Saturday, March 25 in South End.

Context: The gelato shop was inspired by owner Daphne Cure’s daughter, Lucianna, who doesn’t like ice cream, but fell in love with gelato on a family trip to Italy.

• The name of the shop comes from Lucianna’s family nickname. It’s also Italian for “everyone.”

Why it matters: Cure, a native of Colombia, and her family call Ballantyne home, but they wanted to open their shop in the heart of the city. And for many businesses in Charlotte right now, from local shops like Tutti Gelato to corporations like Lowe’s, South End is the place to be.

What they’re saying: The texture of the gelato will be dense, creamy and full of flavor, but not too sweet, head chef Sabrina Mancin tells Axios.

• Flavors range from classics like coffee, hazelnut and pistachio to novelty flavors like cheesecake with strawberries on top to Black Forest (think Black Forest cake with a chocolate layer with sour cherries and a cream layer with shattered chocolate chips).

Details: Expect more than 20 flavors of gelato, plus vegan options and sorbet. They also serve espresso and eventually pastries.

• Scoops come in a cone or a dish: $4.90 for a single scoop, $6.50 for two scoops, $8.90 for three scoops and $12 for a pint. A sugar cone is $0.25 and a waffle cone is $0.75.

• Tutti Gelato is located at 1700 Camden Road Suite 101 in the former Central Coffee spot.
• Hours for the soft opening week are: Sunday 1-7pm, closed on Monday, Tuesday 1-8pm and 1-9:30pm Wednesday through Saturday.

What’s next: The grand opening is scheduled for April 1, but the exact time hasn’t been set, spokesperson Angie Hernandez tells Axios.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on April 1 to reflect Tutti Gelato’s new pricing.