A new Noble Gas Station has opened in Orange with three eateries tucked inside: Frisbie's Dairy Barn, Mini Sturbridge Coffee House and The Bōl Place. The travel center sits at 88 Marsh Hill Road, and it's the latest project from Frisbie's Dairy Barn founder Mike Frisbie, who owns the station itself.
Seventh Frisbie's Location Brings a Twist
According to CT Insider, which first reported the opening, this is the seventh Frisbie's Dairy Barn location in Connecticut and Massachusetts, joining existing shops in West Hartford, North Attleboro, Windsor, East Lyme and Sturbridge. Mike Frisbie said the Orange location is the first Frisbie's with an ice cream shop built right inside its store, a departure from the brand's usual format. Most other Frisbie's locations operate as seasonal walk-up ice cream stands, while the original shop in New Britain, built in 2015 on the old Guida Dairy homestead, has both indoor seating and a Noble gas station of its own.
The Hartford Courant reported back in September that Paul Parks, who now runs the ice cream side of the business after Frisbie sold his ice cream operations to the former employee, said the Orange shop would be Frisbie's first all-indoor counter and would stay open all year, according to the Hartford Courant. Frisbie still owns the real estate for all the chain's locations and partners with Parks on the gas station and travel-center side of operations.
Coffee, Breakfast Sandwiches and Grain Bowls Round Out the Menu
Alongside the ice cream counter, the Orange station includes a Mini Sturbridge Coffee House and The Bōl Place, both owned by Pia Dowd, per Mike Frisbie. Sturbridge Coffee House serves breakfast items, bagels, muffin tops, acai bowls, coffee drinks and teas. Frisbie said his own favorite order there is the Roadster breakfast sandwich, built with egg, bacon, tomato, English muffin and mayo.
The Bōl Place specializes in greens, grains and protein bowls, offering both build-your-own options and signature combinations, according to The Connecticut Scoop, which reported on the three concepts ahead of their arrival. Frisbie said his pick from that menu is the Autumn Harvest Bowl, made with warm chicken, squash, Brussels sprouts and quinoa. Mike Frisbie plans to offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream at the site, with dine-in, patio and grab-and-go options all available.
From Ice Cream University to Nearly Two Dozen Flavors
Frisbie learned to make handcrafted ice cream at Ice Cream University in West Orange, New Jersey, training that underpins the shop's lineup. The Connecticut Scoop reported the Orange shop would serve nearly two dozen ice cream flavors on a near year-round basis. Frisbie's favorite flavor is Mikey's Chocolate Chunk, which was named after him.
The Orange project has been years in the making and described differently at various stages. The Orange Economic Development Corporation's January newsletter noted construction progressing at the Marsh Hill Road site and described a planned fueling center with gas, diesel, EV charging and a convenience shop, as detailed by the Orange Economic Development Corporation. Earlier reporting from the Hartford Business Journal and the New Haven Register gave differing square-footage figures for the proposed travel center, convenience store and separate EV showroom, and it's not clear which numbers match what was ultimately built.
Part of a Broader Noble Gas Expansion
The Orange opening fits a pattern for Frisbie and his business partner, who according to the Hartford Business Journal have built or refurbished a dozen gas stations under the Noble Gas brand over the past decade, blending traditional fuel service with upscale coffee, ice cream and EV charging. Frisbie's also opened its fifth location in March at a Noble Gas Station plaza in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where the Telegram & Gazette reported that homemade hard ice cream was served only through walk-up windows on an outdoor patio. The chain says on its own site that its scoop shops are open year-round, though hours vary by location and season.
Frisbie's also has another location planned for Hamden, at 3311 Whitney Avenue, with the brand's website listing it as coming soon for fall 2026. In Orange, the Amity Chamber of Commerce is set to hold a ribbon cutting for the new Noble Gas Station on Nov. 19.
