New Mexican-style paletas shop will give away 1,000 free ice pops at grand opening
There’s nothing like summer in the Queen City. Long days of strolling through some of the most eclectic neighborhoods while supporting small businesses, walks through Freedom Park, grabbing a meal from your favorite food truck and waiting for the sun to go down so you can really enjoy the weather are all right around the corner. Now, that summer feeling is starting early in South End with a new addition — and a full on ice cream experience — thanks to Morelia Gourmet Paletas.
The gourmet ice pop shop is hosting a grand opening April 30 and May 1, where it will give away more than 1,000 Mexican paletas, which are large frozen treats. What sets them apart? Each paleta is handmade and full of natural ingredients.
The magic lies within the customizable experience, however. When you enter the shop, you are met with a choice between 16 flavors. Then, the fun begins — to dip or not to dip? Do you want to submerge your paleta in white, dark or milk chocolate? Or do you prefer crunchy hazelnut or cookie butter? The experience culminates with a roll through your favorite topping — Oreos, peanuts, almonds, coconut and classic rainbow sprinkles are all an option. The bonus is that each location carries a little something extra.
“If you do the math you can come up with over 1 million combinations,” co-founder Alex Kassab told CharlotteFive. “You can come and have the same experience, and a friend can have a totally different experience than you — or you can come to our store 1 million times and have a totally different experience each time.”
In 2016, the founders opened the first shop in the Miami area. In a short amount of time, they’ve managed to replicate this unique ice cream experience at 10 locations in South Florida.
Charlotte residents can thank a Paletas Morelia fan — who relocated to Charlotte from Miami — who sparked the idea of an expansion to Charlotte, Kassab said. The South End location will open in March.
“We are very happy so far because it was not us pushing to go there,” Kassab said. “It was a fan now living in an amazing city like Charlotte that’s actually growing.”
Expanding to a city like Charlotte that is experiencing growth means that Paletas Morelia’s arrival is perfect timing.
“It seems to be that the city is beginning to go through a transformation process with new concepts and new alternatives with neighborhoods like South End gaining popularity,” said co-founder and general manager Gilbert Arismendi. “It’s such a vibrant place, and we want to be there and be part of that change and that diversity that you see there now.”
The owners aren’t wasting any time learning and incorporating Charlotte’s culture by balancing their brand but also adapting to the ways of the Queen City, he said.
“We are already working with local artists and people who are already connected to the community,” Arismendi said.
Signature Combinations
If you’re looking to try something that’s a bit outside of the dessert box, Paletas Morelia has options specifically designed for you. Add a Nutella drizzle to your customized dessert or spring for the upgrade to a paleta sandwich — your paleta between two chocolate wafers. For an over-the-top experience, spring for the s’mores. Watch closely as your paleta is covered in marshmallow fluff, set ablaze and dusted with graham crackers.
Miami-based food influencer and creator Nico Norena has the marshmallow fluff — with the blaze — in his signature combination, but he added some extras. The Succulent Bite S’mores Paleta is full of flavor and texture. It starts with an Oreo Cookies n’ Cream ice cream paleta, covered with torched marshmallow fluff and topped with Oreo cookie crumbs and melted white chocolate served on a fresh, made-to-order waffle bowl.
At first bite, you might think it could be overly sweet, and the answer is yes. It’s sweet and it’s delicious, Norena said.
“When you bite, it’s just an explosion of different sweet flavors with that hint of the torched marshmallow and the texture of the waffle and cookies,” Norena said. “It is amazing.”
‘More than ice cream’
Relationships and community are a priority for the owners. Their children and families were a huge part in developing the specific taste and flavors, and that sense of community has translated into the business with people — pre COVID-19 — coming into the store and extending their conversations with a delicious, customized treat.
“We thought that was the magic thing,” Kassab said. “We want to continue to foster that sense of community. We’re all about that more than the ice cream. The ice cream is the byproduct.”
Paletas at your doorstep
With COVID-19 safety as a priority, Paletas Morelia ensures its shops are in compliance with health recommendations and mandates within each city where it operates. Employees and customers wear masks, employees sanitize the area after serving and the shops offer outdoor seating.
Another priority is ensuring the product gets to the community in a safe way, including delivery and curbside service. If you’re finding it hard to understand the logistics with ordering frozen dessert online, Paletas Morelia has you covered.
“No worries, it’s not going to be melted,” Kassab said. “If you don’t feel safe, we want to make sure different circumstances isn’t a barrier to enjoying unique quality ice cream.”
Morelia Gourmet Paletas
1425 Winnifred St. #104
Instagram: @PaletasMorelia
Pro tip: Its grand opening will be April 30 and May 1, beginning at 1 p.m. until the free paletas run out. RSVP at evite: https://tinyurl.com/krsdhja4
This story was originally published February 23, 2021 at 3:52 PM.
