Mansion Diner Expanding with Soft-Serve, Gelato Spot Next Door

The owner of the beloved Mansion Diner (1634 York Avenue at 86th Street) is opening a hybrid frozen dessert and convenience store next door within the next few months.

John Philips, The Mansion’s owner and manager, told East Side Feed on Thursday that this will be the first time his family will operate the space at 501 East 86th Street (part of the same building) in decades.

“We’ve had multiple tenants there for as long as I can remember. The last time my family operated that store was maybe in the 1970s,” Philips said, adding that he couldn’t quite remember what exactly they were doing with the space back then. “Our tenant didn’t want to renew at the rates that are expected these days, which is understandable, [so] we decided it might be worth it to move in and do something.”

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Philips said the new shop will be known as The Candy Store. Although the last business to occupy the space was simply called “Newstand,” locals have referred to it as “the candy store” for years. Newstand closed towards the end of last year.

Philips mentioned that he’s sourcing homemade gelato from a creator in Queens for many of the frozen dessert options that will be available. In addition to the very Mansion-esque desire to bring in local desserts from around the city, The Candy Store will honor the space’s convenience store past by offering items including newspapers, the coveted pure sugar cane Mexican versions of Coca-Cola and Fanta, and Jarritos.

“There’s certainly a crossover,” Philips said regarding the ethos and offerings that will be at The Candy Store, which at present is set to include soft serve, frozen yogurt and gelato. “But this place is not an extension of the Mansion.”

He added that he hopes the store will open up in the next sixty days, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The space is very tight–there will be no seating—and they’re working on installing everything the shop will need to get up to their standards.

Philips added that The Candy Store will be run by Tom Mazenis, a close contact of his in the food business who also happens to live in one of the apartments above the shop.

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