Frates Dairy Ice Cream - The Bottle
2840 Acushnet Ave. North End
New Bedford, Ma.

It was a tradition in the north end of New Bedford for generations.

A hot summer day or evening and people lined up for their ice cream and frappes and milk shakes etc.
It was made by the Frates dairy family themselves.

The place was was built in the 1930's. The bottle part of the building was built by the owners and the wood was steamed and bent in the parking lot to create the curves of the bottle. It is 52 feet tall.

There is another bottle in Raynham, another one 3 built by Frates Dairy.
The buildings were designed by Les Labrose.
Originally the bottle was painted with the cream layer showing on top as milk was sold that way before they seperated it as they do now. The cream part was more of a cream color to show the separation..

In 2003 Scott and Crystal Vurpillatte bought the building and business.
They renamed the place "Tali" after their young daughter.
By March 2005 the bottle was for sale.

Currently it is the home of G&S Pizza a local favorite dining establishment.
See the 2010 image at bottom of the page.

Photo below is from an earlier time when the building had not yet had the addition built.
Scroll down for more photos