By Olivia D’Ambrosia 

Have you ever had the pleasure of traveling to Italy and tasting authentic gelato? Creamy, flavorful, and not too sweet? If not, you don’t need to travel far for a similar experience. Deluca Gelato, located in the Gayton Crossing shopping center, encompasses all of the above. With 50 homemade gelato flavors, the gelateria gives customers an authentic Italian experience. 

Italian mural of Rome. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

As you enter the gelateria, you are transported to a little town in Italy. Detailed paintings of landscapes from around Naples and Rome surround the walls, and distinct Italian music fills the space. As you enter the shop and shift your glance from the beautiful mural, you are greeted by an array of flavors curated to please any customer.

I had the pleasure of talking with one of the owners, Terry Deluca, about her and her husband Nick’s journey in starting this business. Terry is originally from Canada, but she and Nick met in college at Virginia Tech. Before opening their business, Terry worked in finance, and Nick was an Italian professor. 

The idea of the gelateria started with Nick. As Terry said, “This is his idea, baby, or brainchild.” He was always interested in his Italian heritage and tried his best to keep Italy close to his heart. Twice, with his students, he traveled to Italy, and while there, he fell in love with gelato and knew it was a gift he had to bring back to Richmond. 

Around 2007, during the housing crisis, they started their local business. No matter the struggle, this did not stop them from turning Nick’s dream into a reality. As Terry explained, “Everyone was getting stuff they shouldn’t have gotten.” Buying a space and starting a business during a recession does not seem like a great idea, but for the Delucas, it worked perfectly. 

One of the more complex parts of starting a business is knowing what steps need to be done, and in what order. And, above all that, it’s a considerable risk. As Terry explained, “Everything you own is in jeopardy.” On top of that, they had to care for their two-year-old and four-year-old children. However, despite the challenges, the business continued to stay open.​​ Terry explained, “When you start a new business, each person that walks in is a new customer, so our shop could only grow.” 

Deluca Gelato is a family-friendly local ice cream shop that is fit for everyone, even those with allergies. Allergies run through the Deluca family, so they understand the importance of their products having no cross-contamination. Terry said,” Since people know this about us, it makes them feel more calm” about making allergy-safe choices. They also offer an abundance of lactose-free flavors; there are 12 different sorbetto flavors, whereas most stores usually have one or two. 

A few of the flavors. Photo credit: Yelp user Kathleen D.

All the gelato is homemade and fresh. The process of making the gelato is more time-consuming than I could’ve imagined; it takes about 48 hours for a pan to be servable. Because of this, making the ice cream takes a great deal of planning. Terry said, “You have to know what you need and when you need it.” A tub can stay out for about one to two weeks before it expires; however, most are emptied in two to three days. 

The best thing about being a local shop is that consumer demand guides what flavors are made and put out to be sold. Occasionally, they will have Olive Oil and/or Sea Salt flavors, but only when customers ask for them. Deluca also offers seasonal flavors: Thin Mint during Girl Scout cookie season, Peppermint and Eggnog during the holiday season, and Pumpkin Pie in the fall. Around St. Patrick’s Day, their Guinness flavor was in high demand. Terry mentioned how two fan favorites are consistently Cookies and Cream and Dark Chocolate. She stated, “I mean, who doesn’t like cookies and chocolate in their gelato?”

According to Terry, one of the best things about running a local business is the customers and the people she gets to meet. Terry explained that although the same people always come back, they also see new faces daily. During my interview with Terry, a beloved customer came in, and they talked for quite a bit, catching up on life. When Terry came to sit back down, she said, “I don’t know what we would do if we weren’t doing this… I would miss this… mostly because I like to be around people.” Terry talked about how getting gelato is one of the few times you see a family together. She also enjoys being able to watch families grow up. She said, “I feel like I’m part of a whole extended family in and of itself.” Terry exclaimed, “People come either because they are happy, or to get happy, and that is why I love it so much.” 

Happiness exudes from the walls at Deluca Gelato; as a customer was leaving, she joyfully stated, “It’s such a nasty day, but now it’s a happy one…thank heavens for the Deluca Gelato.”   

I am a frequent Deluca Gelato customer, and I try to get a new flavor combination each time I go. A few of my favorite combinations are Key Lime Pie and Cannoli, Biscoff and Sweet Cream, Eggnog and Peppermint, and Strawberry and Chocolate. 

Even though Ava Robinson (‘24) is lactose intolerant, she always finds something enjoyable and refreshing to try. On a recent visit, Robinson ordered Mango and Chocolate and exclaimed, “It was absolutely delicious!”

Mango and Chocolate Sorbetto. Photo credit: Olivia D’Ambrosia.

Gabriela Linkonis (‘25) stated, “I really enjoy the wide variety of flavors and the perfect serving sizes.” Elle Oliver (‘25) added, “Their ice cream is delicious.” From outside the Collegiate community, Yelp reviewers have mostly glowing comments. Anthony F. wrote, “Authentic consistency with tons of different flavors to choose from.” Katie R. remarked, “Had an amazing little treat here on a warm evening.” If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out Deluca Gelato, you should. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and a delectable scoop of gelato in your hand.