By Eric Curl
June 21, 2026, – A warm pink neon glow could soon serve as a guiding light to those in search of a cold sweet treat in Savannah’s Starland District.
One of Savannah’s most iconic local businesses, Leopold’s Ice Cream, appears poised to open a shop amid the growing number of art galleries, retail stores, restaurants, bars and music venues that have been drawing an increasing number of locals and visitors alike beyond downtown.
This week, the Historic Planning Commission is scheduled to hear Leopold’s petition to install a neon-illuminated wall sign on the mixed-use building at 2400 Bull St., where the ice cream parlor will occupy the space left vacant following the recent closing of the Lite Foot Company, according to the submitted plans. The building, a commercial anchor along the corridor, currently houses Sola Salon, F45 Training, Brochu’s Family Tradition and Garden Square as tenants.
Famous across the country for flavors such as Tutti Frutti and Chocolate Chewies and Cream, Leopold’s is a popular destination for both tourists and residents, with long lines commonly extending down the sidewalk outside the flagship parlor at 212 East Broughton St.
Three brothers from Greece opened the original Leopold’s ice cream shop in 1919 at the corner of East Gwinnett and Habersham streets, and the business has long been run by one of the founders’ sons, Stratton Leopold, who is also known for his lengthy career in Hollywood producing films in the Mission Impossible franchise and other big-budget films (Editor’s note: While less successful at the box office, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is this author’s favorite).
The Starland shop would become Leopold’s fourth location, with scoops also being served now at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and on Whitemarsh Island, according to the company’s website. Leopold has also submitted plans over the years to renovate and reopen the original location at 720 Habersham St., across from the downtown Kroger, but those plans have yet to progress beyond the permitting and review process. It is unclear what the status of that project is, advancing only as far as an unlit neon sign over the entrance and black and white photos of the old shop covering the windows.
The Starland building at 2400 Bull St. previously housed grocery stores, including a Sav-A-Lot grocery store and David’s supermarket. It was redeveloped into the mixed-use complex between 2020 and 2022 and now serves as one of the Starland District’s commercial anchors.
The area’s popularity with locals, many of whom tend to avoid the more tourist-oriented downtown these days, has been growing, as have options for shopping, dining, art and entertainment. Visitors also have taken notice and have been increasingly venturing south of 37th Street to enjoy the area’s bars, restaurants, music venues and stores.
The addition of Leopold’s could further boost the district’s growing popularity. Whether lines of customers underneath the shop’s neon sign will be a regular sight remains to be seen.
The sign petition is scheduled to go before the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday. Find it and the full agenda at Historic Preservation Commission meeting June 24 – Savannah Agenda.
If you find value in this website, please consider contributing above or via Paypal to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Savannah_Agenda. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource. You can also show your support by subscribing below and sharing Savannah Agenda with others via email or social media. Increasing readership is critical to the long-term success of this site.
Check out Savannah Agenda’s latest newsletter>
TOP POSTS
