SYRACUSE, N.Y. —For the first time in 77 years, Arctic Island, a beloved ice cream stand in Syracuse’s Valley neighborhood, will not open for the summer season.
The decision follows the unexpected collapse of a planned sale to new owners, which fell through on March 31, just one day before the stand was scheduled to reopen for its spring season.
“We were so close,” said Mel Menon, who has owned Arctic Island since 2019. “It’s too bad, because they told us they had plans to keep it as an awesome feature for the Valley. And that’s definitely what we’re hoping for.”
The iconic stand, located at 210 W. Seneca Turnpike, remains up for sale. Listed at $650,000 through Berkshire Hathaway CNY Realty, the property includes a turnkey operation—with all ice cream equipment, an indoor café space, and a prime location at the corner of West Seneca Turnpike and Midland Avenue.
The indoor café, originally added in 2005 as the Broadway Deli, has potential for expanded offerings such as coffee, sandwiches, and pizza. While Menon initially operated both the ice cream stand and deli, she pivoted to focus on the ice cream business during the COVID-19 pandemic, converting the café into outdoor seating.
Menon has pledged to offer guidance and coaching to any future buyer, sharing what she has learned during her ownership—much of it, she notes with a smile, from “frozen dessert university.”
Founded in 1948, Arctic Island became a staple of summer life in Syracuse. It served both hard and soft ice cream, sundaes, floats, shakes, and other frozen favorites. It operated for decades under Arnold Taub before passing to Dan Sorber in 2005, and finally to Menon.
Just down the road is another Syracuse ice cream institution, Gannon’s Isle, but Arctic Island carved out a special place in local hearts with its nostalgic charm and neighborhood roots.
Though saddened by the closure, Menon plans to continue her work with Sundae’s Cool LLC, a social venture focused on feeding food-insecure populations through partnerships with nonprofits and faith-based groups.
“I’m definitely sad to be leaving Arctic Island,” Menon said. “But our other work is very important and fulfilling. People often don’t realize how much food insecurity there is, so we still have a lot of work to do.”
For now, the future of Arctic Island is uncertain—but Menon and many in the community remain hopeful that a new chapter for the historic ice cream stand is still possible.
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