Sparta Dairy to reopen under new ownership
BUSINESS. Thanks to a Sparta couple, the revitalization of this local ice cream business seems "mint" to be.
| 22 Aug 2019 | 04:52
Sparta Dairy was recently purchased and is under renovation. (Photos provided)
Have a suggestion for the new mascot's name? The new Sparta Dairy owners want to know. Their Facebook page is named Sparta Dairy NJ. (
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By Laurie Gordon
After years of driving by the vacant location where Sparta Dairy had once thrived, Sparta residents Sarah and Anthony Ziccardi decided to see if they could purchase it.
“The rest just fell into place,” Sarah Ziccardi said. “We have fond memories of visiting the ice cream shop as children,” Ziccardi said. “We want to keep the name of Sparta Dairy and bring this Sparta staple back to life.”
When Sparta Diary was closed a few years back, they locked the door, and left everything as it was.
“So to say we have our hands full, would be an understatement,” Ziccardi said. “As a team we are working everyday to give the inside and outside a complete face lift and have hired all local Sparta companies for our renovations which will include painting, paving, landscaping, outdoor seating areas, etc.”
The ice cream menu is not set in stone yet, but the Ziccardis have some ideas and will be taste testing this fall. They're also asking people the public to give their input on the menu.
“We hear you, and are trying to include many of your requests in our final menu,” she said.
The Grand Opening is slated for Feb. 28, 2020, and the business will be open year-round.
“We are thrilled to bring this family tradition back to life for the town of Sparta,” Ziccardi said. “Driving by the vacant memory is depressing, but we know when it’s finished and opened it will be a bright light in the center of town and a great gathering spot for future generations. We look forward to supporting our local sports teams and community that we love so much.”
Sparta Dairy will hire during the winter for year round and seasonal help. Anyone interested can send a resume to spartadairynj@gmail.com.
They're also interested in hearing interesting suggestions as to a name for their cow mascott. So far, suggestions include; Buttercup, Daisy, Milkshake, Waffles, Bessie, Cockadoodle Moo, Tank, T-Bone, Molly (the moo cow), MooMoo, Duke, Nessie and Penelope.
Sparta Dairy is located at 28 Sparta Avenue in Sparta.