Stacy Williams is the new owner BB's Gelateria, formerly known as Gelateria Del Centro off Fulton Street in Downtown Fresno. Instagram photo

When Gelateria Del Centro opened its doors in November 2023, it instantly became a hit in Downtown Fresno. Serving sweet treats just off Fulton Street, the shop, owned by Jordan Sanchez and Tami Waters, fulfilled a lifelong dream for the duo.

Just over a year after opening, the owners announced the sale of the shop, not due to a loss of business, but the addition of a brand new position for one of the owners, Sanchez, who accepted a position as deputy chief of staff for Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.

The store, which originally opened after the sudden collapse of Bitwise—where both Sanchez and Waters worked until May 2023—was opened out of passion and necessity. Both owners were out of their primary occupations and needed something to support their families.

A by-chance scroll through through Instagram last year led Stacy Williams, the gelateria’s new owner, to make a life-changing decision. This decision opened the door to not only achieving the dream of owning a business but also celebrating and honoring the legacy of both Williams’ grandmother, Betty, and her fiance’s mother, Beatrice, in the store’s name and future menu.

It is now known as BB’s Gelateria.

“I’m Italian, so gelato is very close to our heart,” Williams said. “When I saw the Instagram post about the sale, it was like a light bulb went off. This is what we’re supposed to be doing.”

Just weeks after her grandmother’s passing, Williams reached out to the store’s former owners. Following a short negotiation period between the two parties, an agreement was made to offer the gelateria to Williams at a very reasonable price, something that Williams said will be further assisted by the three-year, graduated lease with the Warnors Center.

“I love Downtown Fresno,” Williams said. “The history of Warnors Theater makes this space even more meaningful.”

Williams said that the history of the building and the revamp of shows and appearances at the Warnors Theater will only add to the community interest.

Ringing in the New Year with a soft opening on Jan. 2, the ice cream shop hopes to share the love with the community, prepping for a grand opening on Valentine’s Day serving up the sweetness for the local community.

Williams, who worked in the nonprofit sector for eight years, including stops with United Way and Fresno EOC, is channeling her passion for the community into her new venture.

“I feel like my love for Fresno and the community is now going to be shown through food and a place where people can come hang out,” she said.

While the store’s initial focus will remain on gelato, Williams plans to expand the menu to include Italian sodas, cannoli, espressos and, eventually, charcuterie and ice cream sandwiches.

She hopes to offer Italian sodas and a few other new menu additions for the shop’s soft opening.

The shop’s hours will be Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Williams said that for the first several months, she will operate the shop herself but will likely aim to hire staff within a few months.

Williams’ love for Downtown Fresno doesn’t stop at her front door; she hopes the gelateria will attract customers from all over Fresno to explore downtown, particularly encouraging shoppers to explore women-owned business ventures.

“We need all the help we can get,” she said. “Support Downtown Fresno — it’s the heartbeat of our community.”