Amorino Gelato is set to mark a grand opening in Johns Creek on Nov. 6, handing a free cone to each of the first 1,000 guests who show up at its new shop inside the Medley development. The Italian gelato chain's arrival adds another sweet stop to one of the city's newest retail hubs, with a promotion big enough to draw a line out the door.
According to citybiz, the grand opening falls on Nov. 6, with the free-cone giveaway limited to the first 1,000 people through the door. The new location sits at 7125 Medley Crossing in Johns Creek, Georgia, according to businessdebut.com, which also reports the shop as Amorino's third location in the state. That same outlet had earlier reported the location was set to open on Oct. 29, a date that conflicts with the Nov. 6 grand-opening date cited by citybiz — a discrepancy neither report resolves.
What's on the Menu
Customers can expect Amorino's full lineup, including gelato, gelato-filled macarons, crepes, waffles, hot chocolate, coffee and affogatos, per the same businessdebut.com report. The shop is also expected to include both indoor and outdoor seating, with shaded areas designed to make the space usable throughout the day, according to the outlet's reporting. Amorino's gelato and sorbet varieties reportedly use organic free-range eggs and fresh farm milk, skip artificial colors and flavors, and are gluten-free.
The brand traces back to 2002, when childhood friends Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi founded Amorino with the goal of bringing authentic Italian gelato to the world, per citybiz's reporting. The company has since grown into a presence spanning more than 15 countries.
A New Anchor Inside Medley
The Johns Creek shop is part of Medley, a 43-acre mixed-use development described by ajc.com as one of the city's most significant new retail and dining destinations. The project is being built by Toro Development Company as part of Johns Creek's broader 192-acre Town Center plan, the outlet notes. Medley officially opened Oct. 29 with a ceremony that drew several hundred people, and the $560 million project includes 145,000 square feet of walkable retail and restaurant space alongside office space, rental homes, townhomes and a 25,000-square-foot plaza, as reported by appenmedia.com. An earlier stage of planning had described the first phase as roughly 180,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, a figure that reflects an earlier version of the project rather than the final buildout, per metroatlantaceo.com.```thejohnscreekmagazine.com reports that Medley has surpassed the 75% leased milestone and plans to host roughly 100 community events each year, while a second phase is expected to add 408 apartments, 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 150-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, according to whatnow.com.
Other Businesses Joining the Lineup
Amorino isn't opening in isolation. The gelato shop was named alongside other Medley tenants including BODYROK, Summit Coffee, CRÚ Wine Bar & Bistro and Petfolk, according to the same whatnow.com report. Other businesses tied to the Oct. 29 opening included Rena's Italian Fishery & Grill, 26 Thai Kitchen, Shake Shack, STIR, Tonic House, Sephora and High Country Outfitters. Medley's retail mix also includes Trader Joe's, Kontour Medical Spa, Moop's Boutique, Northern China Eatery, Warby Parker, Tabla, Hollow Oak, The Nest Café and CT Cantina & Taqueria, per thejohnscreekmagazine.com's reporting. Five Daughters Bakery is also set to open at Medley, marking its first location outside the Perimeter, according to ajc.com.
Hours Still Unsettled
Exactly when the doors will be open each week remains unclear. Businessdebut.com reported the shop was expected to run daily from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends, while the Medley directory lists different hours — noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to medleyjohnscreek.com. The two schedules don't match, and neither source clarifies which one is currently in effect.
For now, the headline draw is simple: a free cone and a new reason to wander Medley's walkable retail stretch. With the Nov. 6 grand opening approaching, Johns Creek residents curious about Amorino's gelato, sundaes and crepes won't have to wait long to find out for themselves.
