Amendola Family Opened Sweetaly Gelato in Santa Barbara

The family expanded their gelato business to State Street after operating two locations in Utah.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A close-up view of a silver metal ice cream scoop and raw pistachios resting on a white marble surface in bright light. — The Amendola family has opened Sweetaly, a new gelato shop on State Street in Santa Barbara, bringing traditional Italian techniques and imported ingredients to the city. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Amendola family has opened a new shop, Sweetaly, on State Street in Santa Barbara. The owners transitioned into the space of a former gelato shop to bring traditional Italian methods to the local area.

Why it matters

The business represents the familys effort to share Italian culture in the United States while pursuing their American dream. The expansion was prompted by the suggestion of their daughter, who attends Santa Barbara City College.

The Amendola family now operates three gelato shops in total, including this new location and two existing storefronts in Utah. The business occupies a space previously utilized by another gelato shop.

The players

Amendola family

They are entrepreneurs who operate gelato shops in Utah and have recently expanded their business to Santa Barbara.

Sweetaly

It is a new gelato shop located on State Street in Santa Barbara that uses traditional Italian production methods.

The details

The owners utilize traditional Italian methods and source specific ingredients like pistachios and almonds directly from Italy. They supplement these imports with milk and fruit procured from local suppliers.

September 23, 2026: Article publication date.

Market Landscape

The expansion follows the growth of artisan dessert concepts in coastal commercial districts, signaling an increase in specialty food retail on State Street. This move positions the brand to capture pedestrian traffic in a competitive market while maintaining a niche focus on traditional Italian techniques.

Local residents and visitors can now access imported Italian ingredients such as pistachios and almonds at the new State Street location. The shop also supports regional agriculture by utilizing locally sourced milk and fruit in their products.

The takeaway

The Amendola familys expansion highlights how family-operated businesses can leverage niche cultural products to enter new regional markets. Consumers interested in supporting small businesses can find these specialty desserts in the space formerly occupied by a previous gelato shop.