We All Scream for Park Street Ice Cream

Ah, summer, that blissful time when the birds are singing, days are long and carefree and eating ice cream is second nature. The question is—where in Natick is the best ice cream? Patch asked that question of our readers several months ago, and won hand’s down.

“I think people love us because our ice cream is homemade right on site,” said one of the owner’s four children, Jonathan Vitale. “We make all sorts of unique flavors such as peanut butter chip and other yummy delights.”

Vitale’s dad opened the shop in 1980 at 114 Park Street right on the town common.

“My dad loves being his own boss, making his own hours and being a small, family run business,” Vitale said. “I love that I get free ice cream.”

Park Street Ice Cream Shoppe is an old fashioned shop with a variety of lovely places to sit outside to people watch or simply enjoy the sites and sounds of summer.

Vitale, who recently graduated from Westfield State with a business degree, notes that he may one day take over the business from his dad, but he does have three siblings, so no decisions have been made.

“We have been in business for 30 years,” Vitale said. “We make our ice cream by hand, on site and people know that they can expect quality from us. I think that’s why we were voted number one.”

Aside from the traditional ice cream cone, Park Street Ice Cream Shoppe, also offers a mouthwatering ice cream sandwich made out of cookies, several flavors of fat-free frozen yogurt and a grill menu available for lunch.

Right now the shop is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

“Once school is out we will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday but Sunday,” Vitale said. “Sundays we don’t open until noon.”