A homemade ice cream parlor can set up shop in the Crossroads of Dulles after receiving approval from Herndon late last month.
The Herndon Planning Commission unanimously approved a special exception on Aug. 26 for Ice Ice Ice Cream at the office condominiums, expanding the operating hours and number of permitted seats beyond what was allowed for previous occupants.
Owner and Herndon resident Spirot Souliotis said the space is expected to open the 950-square-foot space at 1031 Sterling Road, Suite 104, by next spring. He had intentionally rented out the space in the same place where his Allstate insurance agency is located.
The space was previously under a conditional use permit in 1990, allowing a restaurant use on the suite. It was first filed under the name Deli Licious, followed by Italia’s Deli & Pizzeria. That permit limited operating hours to 5 p.m. and seats to 12.
Under the newly approved special exception, the ice cream parlor’s hours will range from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and on Sundays. Friday and Saturday hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It can have a maximum of 20 seats.
Town staff noted that a restaurant has been operating on and off since 1990 in the location “without any negative impacts to the adjacent units or surrounding neighborhood.”
“The expansion of the hours and number of seats are minor enough to not generate negative impacts and the demand for office condominiums has decreased since 1990,” Fadrique Iglesias, a planner with the Town of Herndon, said.
The exception was approved with no contention amongst the commission. The business will offer homemade ice cream with flavors inspired by its owner’s Greek heritage and an interior design intended to evoke the feel of a vintage American diner.
