Rick Consolo is home away from Pineapple Grove in his new storefront, Gelato at Collado's. Consolo said he’s begun a grass oots effort to save his livelihood, Gelato at Collado’s.

With recent news that Atlantic Avenue business is flourishing, just one block away at Pineapple Grove on Northeast Second Avenue business was disappearing for Gelato store owner Rick Consolo. The radio disc jockey from Cleveland moved to Delray Beach less than a decade ago destined to make gelato in Delray Beach just like they did in his ancestral land of Italy.
He chose Pineapple Grove in the heart of Downtown Delray Beach.

The Cannery Row development just one block away from Consolo unexpectedly stopped development after constructing one building, leaving a void in Pineapple Grove. The large grocery tenant expected for the 500-plus Old School Square Parking Garage backed out and the upscale Astor Development at Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast First Street has also failed to attract tenants, according to Consolo.
“I had to give up on the Pineapple Grove Arts District as a viable business location for an Italian Gelato shop. Three months ago, I packed up my two gelato machines made in Italy, and virtually everything at the business and moved into an established business at Collado's Gourmet Market at 3416 S. Federal Highway in Delray Beach,” Consolo said.

He said numbers have risen at his new store and he’s optimistic about his move and leaving Pineapple Grove.

Read more about this story in the special recession relief issue of the Delray Forum July 29.
Consolo has more than $50,000 invested in his business.