Our Story
Rancatore's Ice Cream was founded in 1985 by Joe Rancatore. Joe learned customer service in the '60s and '70s by watching his dad assist clients at Macy’s in NYC and helping Harvey Kopman serve hungry customers at the Posh Nosh Deli in Clayton, MO. In 1981 at the age of 27 Joe moved to Cambridge to help his brother manage Toscanini’s Ice Cream, leaving four years later to open his own ice cream shop in Belmont. Through word of mouth, a consistent product, and many catered community events, Ranc's slowly gained the affection of locals and out-of-town visitors alike.
Rancatore’s Ice Cream continues to grow and change, but we maintain the same principles that we began with at our original Belmont St location: Attentive customer service, great tasting ice cream, hot fudge made from scratch, and a deep sense of gratitude for our employees and the communities that support us.
