Frisbies Ice Cream, Noble Gas Nearing Completion
By Robin Vinci | Editor at June 11, 2024 | 6:15 pm | Print
Those who drive by Farmington Ave. on a regular basis have seen the corner near Slater Road developing each day. Michael Frisbee of Hunter Development has been building multiple businesses on the site and plans call for their opening in about one month.
“Mike Frisbie has been a Godsend. I do not know where he came from,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “He came to New Britain and said ‘I want to invest here, what do you have for me?’, and I said ‘where do you want me to start?’”
Frisbie’s first choice was the area on Farmington Ave. where Guida’s Dairy used to be located.
He is building a gas station called Noble Gas (Frisbie’s own brand) with a drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts. The Dunkin’ Donuts will be owned by Cary Gagnon who also owns the store at NewBrite Plaza and on Main St. It will move from Farmingdale Plaza on Farmington Ave. to the new location down the road.
“A drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts is all the talk in that area,” Stewart added.
He is also building an ice cream dairy bar called Frisbie’s. The ice cream store is located on the property in a Cape Cod Style building of about 3,000 square feet. There will be 30 seats with a seating area also outside and music. It will be surrounded by a retaining wall.
Students from Central Connecticut State University helped in the design and several of the original booths from Guida’s Ice Cream will be inside.
“He will use the old Guida’s pictures on the walls and make all the ice cream with Guida’s products,” said Stewart. “He loved the story of what Guida’s had there.”
Frisbie is also building an Italian Restaurant. The restaurant is not as close to completion as the dairy bar and gas station and does not have a name as of yet. It is expected to be something original and not a chain, but no one is sure at this time.
A senior care facility is also planned for the site in the future. The block purchase cost around $1 million, according to City officials.
Most recently, Frisbie put up a sign welcoming all to New Britain.
“He understands that Farmington Avenue is the gateway to New Britain,” said Stewart. “He put the welcome sign up and did a great job. We want to put a City Seal on it.”
But, Frisbie may not be done in New Britain.
“He is one of the people looking at the old police station site,” said Stewart. “He is looking at other sites too.”
Frisbie was unavailable for comment.
