A new Day’s coming to Asbury boardwalk
Historic Ocean Grove ice cream parlor will branch out with second location
An Ocean Grove landmark is crossing the border to provide Asbury Park’s beach-goers with frozen treats this summer.
Day’s Ice Cream will open its new outpost — Just Another Day’s — in the First Avenue Pavilion within the next month or two, according to owner David Fernicola [above]. Just Another Day’s will occupy the space where sweet shop Candyteria once was.
“Day’s is a landmark in Ocean Grove,” Fernicola said. “It’s been [serving] ice cream and food since it was built in 1876.”
Fernicola and his business partner, Arnold Teixeira, took over as owners about 15 years ago. The Day’s building, which spans a lot from Pitman Avenue to Olin Avenue, now includes both Day’s Ice Cream and The Starving Artist, a breakfast and lunch restaurant.
Day’s occupies the Pitman Avenue entrance and The Starving Artist can be accessed on Olin. The two businesses share the large wraparound porch on Pitman, although Day’s and the porch are only open during the summer.
The ice cream parlor, which Fernicola describes as “Victorian and knick-knacked out,” serves up a variety of flavors and types of ice cream. At the new boardwalk location, Fernicola will continue to offer the variety of ice creams found at the original Day’s.
This includes unusual flavors like coconut brownie, black raspberry crisp, peanut butter swirl and cinnamon, as well as low-fat frozen yogurt, sugar-free products, sorbets and soy ice cream.
Day’s is welcoming at least one new dish this summer — the Graceland sundae, with chocolate peanut butter “Elvis” ice cream, topped with bananas and bacon bits.
The ice cream parlor is also working on a new signature flavor. Avon’s Macaroon Shop was once located next door to Day’s in Ocean Grove, so the owners served macaroon ice cream. Fernicola is working on finding a similar product.
He culls his ice cream from eight vendors.
“I get what I think is best,” he said.
Ironically, Day’s sees the most business at night, with lines sometimes wrapping around the block. He hopes he will see more daytime traffic at Just Another Day’s this summer thanks to the beach-goers.
The 14-year ice cream shop veteran attributes his and other frozen treat purveyors’ long-term business success to the nature of the product.
“It’s something that’s not expensive in the scope of things, and it’s a pleasure thing,” he said. “It’s instant gratification.”
