Baltimore-born Pitango Gelato is bringing its small-batch scoops to Loudoun County, with a franchised shop slated to debut at South Riding Market Square this July as the company hits its 20-year milestone. The Chantilly outpost marks a careful, close-to-home step in what Pitango describes as a measured Mid‑Atlantic expansion strategy.
According to The Daily Record, franchisees Sree Gurrapu and Naga Jaka of JUG Concepts LLC will run the new shop, which will serve freshly churned gelato and sorbets alongside espresso, coffee and baked goods. The company has pegged the South Riding store as its second franchised location.
QSR Magazine reports that Pitango first rolled out a franchise program in 2020, rebooted it in 2023, and saw its first franchised shop open in Old Town Alexandria in 2024. The brand currently operates eight locations across the greater D.C. area and the Baltimore region.
Franchise Model and Support
Per Pitango Gelato's franchising materials, typical units run between 800 and 1,500 square feet, with build‑out costs estimated in the low to mid six figures and a franchise fee of $35,000. The company outlines a 21‑day initial training program plus three days of on‑site opening support, packaged as part of a vertically integrated system meant to help franchisees get open and operating quickly.
Where the Shop Will Sit
Leasing documents for South Riding Market Square list Pitango as an incoming tenant in a roughly 1,499‑square‑foot space at 25000 Riding Plaza in Chantilly, according to a leasing flyer from Rappaport. The center is anchored by a Giant supermarket and a roster of national and regional retailers that the landlord says help keep foot traffic steady year‑round.
“Our growth is strategic and intentional,” CEO Dinah Bengur said in the company’s announcement, adding that Pitango is zeroing in on dense, high‑foot‑traffic markets along the East Coast. The brand highlights its centralized production and bakery operations as a way to protect quality while scaling, according to QSR Magazine.
Pitango’s franchising materials state that the company is actively seeking territories across the East Coast, and The Daily Record confirms the South Riding shop is slated to open in July. When doors finally open, Loudoun customers can expect Pitango’s signature churned gelato, espresso drinks and a lineup of baked goods.
