By Eric Curl
April 10, 2022 – Leopold’s is planning to extend and restore the building at 720 Habersham St., where three brothers from Greece opened the original ice cream shop in 1919, according to a petition going before the Historic District Board of Review this week. The proposed extension includes a courtyard/kids play area and accessory structure that would host ice cream events, such as birthday parties, according to the meeting agenda.
Although the application is for the proposed accessory building, HDBR staff says in their agenda report that it is clear that the original Leopold’s ice cream shop, which has sat vacant for years, is proposed to undergo a restoration. While constructed in 1888, the building is currently listed as a noncontributing structure within the Savannah Local Historic District after being officially delisted in 2011, according to the staff report.
Owner Stratton Leopold’s plan to restore the original shop ran into some resistance from the review board back in 2010, according to Tom Barton’s Savannah Morning News editorial from the time. That was before the building was delisted as a contributing structure. In 2016, he spoke with WTOC about his plans to open the location to host special events, with the hope it would be open by the end of the year. Staff is recommending approval next week of the expansion project, as long as it meets certain standards.
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