With some community pushback, Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals grants special permit for Dairy Freeze location

An old Fall River favorite has taken the next step to reopen once again.

At Thursday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, manager Kevin Proulx c/o Jeffrey Tallman of Northeast Engineers and Consults Inc requested a special permit to reestablish the Dairy Freeze ice cream shop on Globe Street and to waive the requirement for off-street parking.

Speaking in opposition, a neighbor to the property stated he had mixed emotions as he has found memories of the Dairy Freeze but expressed concerns over congestion and parking believing times have changed and people don’t walk as much as they used to.

The Board unanimously granted the special permit with conditions including no new outside signage, no ADU, and parking for employees.

Dairy Freeze will be open seasonally from May 1st to October 31st with hours of operation from noon to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

Proulx, and his partner, Mario Loureiro, announced in September a project to restore the former Dairy Freeze that has been idle since 2008.

“We are restoring it back to its original profile. It’s original facade. Restoring the original sign. I want everything original with new modern touches.”

One of those modern touches will be new custom hydraulic windows.

Work has already begun at the property with hopes of opening in August.

The many calls from city residents for someone to re-open a piece of their childhood, have finally been answered.