Our History
When WW2 broke out, Domenico being Italian was interned on the Isle of Man for eight months until Carolina was able to get him released. He returned to Tweedmouth and continued to make ice cream which Carolina sold on nearby Spittal Sands in the Summer and in the Winter he did farm work. However, as these were war years, times were very hard. When an opportunity to make ice cream for Mr Forte in the popular resort of Llandudno came up, Domenico and Carolina decided now was the right time to move.
The family moved to Wales where Domenico made ice cream in the Forte’s factory below the shop at 69 Mostyn Street. In 1950 Domenico and Carolina brought a house in Hywel Place, Llandudno which they purchased for £1400.
The Parisellas story starts in 1912. Like many other young Italians at the time, 18 year old Domenico Parisella had moved to Britain in search of a more prosperous life.After arriving in Scotland, he gained employment in Greenock, near Glasgow, where he learned how to make ice cream the Italian way.
In 1914 he was called up to serve with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Being only 5 foot tall he was an ideal lookout climbing up trees to check on the enemy’s movements. After the war he was given employment on a farm owned by the Captain of his regiment. He began training as a jockey but realised this wasn’t for him.
Carolina supplemented the family income by renting rooms out in the Summer as people flocked to the beach in post-war Britain. During this time Carolina spotted a shop advertised for rent in Conwy. After getting their licence to produce ice cream transferred from Berwick to Conwy the family were now able to open their own business. In 1952, the Continental Ice Cream Parlour opened at 6 Lancaster Square Conwy. Domenico had a small production area at the rear where he made ice cream and this was sold in the shop and also on trikes which were quickly replaced by the first ice cream vans to be seen in Conwy. The vans allowed Parisellas ice cream to be sold throughout North Wales and the business went from strength to strength.
Domenico passed away in May 1976 just before that famous long hot Summer but the business was now in the safe hands of Carolina or Ma as she was known, Leo, Irena and Joe. Over the years the business adjusted to overcome threats such as economic recession and supermarket competition and continues to thrive.
Now managed by Domenico’s grandchildren, Parisella’s has recently moved from the original premises just off Lancaster Square and are now based in Morfa, Conwy at a larger premises.
Domenico’s legacy will hopefully endure for many years to come.
