Williamstown's Lickety Split Closes

By Phyllis McGuireSpecial to iBerkshires
Print Story | Email Story

Residents craving ice cream were greeted with this sign in the window of Lickety Split since Nov. 1.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Rumors began flying this summer but now what the Williams College community and town folk dreaded has come. Lickety Split on Spring Street has closed.

The beloved ice cream shop closed its doors at the end of October but owner Robin Kanelos said she expects the restaurant to reopen in a new location. However, that location is still unknown after the Kanelos' lease expired.

Kanelos did not wish to expand further on the shop's closing but when contacted in September, she said she intended to return to Spring Street. She declined to reveal what steps, if any, she is taking in that direction nor would she say why she was not renewing her lease or if she had even been given an opportunity to do so. The building's owner, Mark Paresky, has not been available to comment.

Recently, Kanelos mentioned that Williams College is helping her find a space to reopen Lickety Space. The only available space on Spring Street as of this moment is 32 Spring St., which was occupied by McClelland's until 2009.  But rumor has it that something else may be opening up on the street.

Loyal patrons of  Lickety Split, the shop best known for its delicious ice cream, including the popular Purple Cow flavor, are more than disappointed that their supply has literally been cut off. One Williams student spoke of the closing of the shop as an "atrocity" and the wife of a faculty member has vowed not to patronize any other ice cream vendors on the street.


The Lickety Split location at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is still open.

In September, Kanelos made it clear that since she assumed ownership of the Williamstown Lickety Split eleven years ago, she has operated the business independently of Lickety Split at Mass MoCA.  

"My sister and her husband own the Lickety Split at Mass MoCA," she said.
 
Though mystery continues to shroud the fate of the cozy eatery that offered snacks, soups, sandwiches and salads as well as ice cream, iBerkshires will be sleuthing until it can report the opening of a re-incarnated Lickety Split.


*iBerkshires reporter Andy McKeever also contributed to this article.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

District Meeting, Fire Station Open House on Tap in Williamstown

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A busy week for the town's Fire Department gets underway on Tuesday evening.
 
The annual Fire District elections and district meeting are scheduled for that night in the Williamstown Elementary School gymnasium.
 
The week will wrap up with a dedication and open house at the district's new fire station on Main Street.
 
Polls for the election are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. and will be closed at 7 to allow for returns to be counted prior to the start of the annual meeting at 7:30.
 
There are two positions on the ballot this spring: a three-year term on the Prudential Committee and a three-year term for moderator.
 
Incumbent Moderator Paul Harsch is the only person running for his position. Michael Noyes is the lone candidate for the Prudential Committee seat currently held by longtime member John Notsley.
 
The Prudential Committee, analogous to the Select Board at town hall, manages the fire service and supervises its one full-time employee, the fire chief.
 
View Full Story

More Williamstown Stories