For George Karamalis, gelato is more than a treat—it’s a family tradition and the foundation of a thriving South Australian business.
According to The Advertiser, this December, George and his wife, Mesha, will open their latest St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream & Dessert store in Glenelg, on the same site where George’s late father, Arthur, ran his gelato shop in 1993.
The launch coincides with what would have been Arthur’s 78th birthday, making the event both sentimental and significant.
Arthur’s shop not only introduced George to the ice cream business, but also shaped his entrepreneurial aspirations.
It was in that very store that George, then 15, met Mesha, who worked part-time scooping ice cream. Now married for 13 years and parents to three children, the couple has built a gelato empire, with 11 locations across Adelaide and the Philippines, and two more planned in Prospect and Elizabeth.
Staying true to quality and tradition has been central to their success.
“It is really about the classics… we need to make sure we make a product true to our heart,” George told The Advertiser. His favourite flavors, hazelnut and pistachio, reflect this commitment, while Mesha treasures the nostalgic St Louis ice cream, inspired by her early days in Arthur’s shop.
Each of their children—Amalia, 12, Archie, 10, and Maisie, 4—has inspired a dessert item, ensuring the family legacy lives on with every scoop.
Source: The Advertiser
