Our Story and History

Gerry began his first business endeavor selling lego in his grade three classroom.  Later, at the age of 17 and in the year 1999, he began a hotdog cart outside of the Invermere Home Hardware.  ‘The Secret Sausage Conspiracy’ was operated in mobile format in the summer of 2000.  In the summer of 2001 it was moved into the court yard and ice cream window beside Thredz, originally known as the courtyard café (now the Toad’s Hole). 

Between 2000 and 2002 Gerry completed a diploma in Hotel and Restaurant management from University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops (now TRU).  In March of 2002, he formed a company called Mad Cow Refreshments & Investments Ltd., which has since owned and operated all his business activities (for simplicity we will refer to Gerry vs. Mad Cow). In 2002, Gerry was successful in getting a liquor license for the ‘Secret Sausage Conspiracy’, was also awarded the contract to operate the concession at Kinsmen Beach, and also opened “Gerry’s Ice Cream & Candy” in Fairmont Hot Springs. “Gerry’s Ice Cream & Candy” was a smaller and simpler version of Gerry’s Gelati.  The original goal and plan was to make gelati and ice cream, but because of financial realities, the ice cream was purchased from Foothills Creamery, and the entire vision for the business was not achieved in that format.  The operation of three locations proved too difficult, and the ‘Secret Sausage Conspiracy’ equipment and leaseholds were sold in the fall of 2002.

In late 2003, Gerry was able to transfer the lease in Fairmont, and close “Gerry’s Ice Cream & Candy” so as to follow his true dream of making his own frozen desserts and setting up the café he was so passionate about starting.  The present location of Gerry’s Gelati was secured in a portion of space that had been leased by the Invermere Pet Shoppe.  The building is owned by Tim Strand, but Gerry remembers as a child when it was R.C. Thompson Grocery store, and he specifically remembers looking through swinging doors into a freight room with a concrete floor and full of boxes.  The freight room of the grocery store, is now the present location of Gerry’s Gelati.

Gerry’s Gelati opened on May 3, 2004 in approximately 860 square feet located at 1145 7^th Avenue (facing 12^th street). The first summer of Gerry’s Gelati was grueling.  There was no air-conditioner, and the heat inside of the space often exceeded 32 degrees. There was no dish washer, everything was washed by hand.  The gelati base was made by heating small pots on the stove, and cooling the milky goodness in a sink with cold water.  The small air-cooled ‘batch freezer’ and Gerry, struggled to keep up with demand.  Often there were only two or three flavours to choose from.  It was not uncommon during that first summer for Gerry to work until 4 am, and then sleep for a couple of hours on the couch in the store, and begin working again.

Over the years many improvements have been made, including such wonderful inventions as air-conditioners and dishwashers.  As our volume increased, and the need for more space and equipment continued, in the summer of 2006 we began producing our gelati and sorbets in a separate commercial kitchen attached to Gerry’s house (affectionately referred to as the “gelati factory”).

The “gelati factory” allowed us to use a much larger and more efficient ‘batch freezer’ and also to use a proper ‘pasteurizer’ for making our gelati base.  It also features a walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer to store ingredients and finished product.

Over the years we have improved our retail location significantly, adding a patio and awnings, adding booths for our indoor seating, increasing the number of flavours from 16 to 34,  re-designing and reconfiguring our behind the counter layout and kitchen equipment, and expanding our food offerings and menu.

In 2006 we began selling our gelati to Lusti’s cappuccino bar and bike rental at Panorama Mountain Resort.  In 2007 Gerry’s Gelati won the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce award for Food & Beverage excellence.  In 2009 we began offering pint containers of gelati and sorbets at AG Valley Foods and the General Store at Panorama.

Since opening, we have only been closed on Christmas days, and one day for renovations.  We remain committed to being open year round, day and night, to serve our customers.

Gerry is also the Mayor of the District of Invermere, he was elected to that position in November of 2008, and had served two terms on council before that.