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#This NYC block dubbed ‘Dairy Row’ is an ice cream lover’s sweet spot

#This NYC block dubbed ‘Dairy Row’ is an ice cream lover’s sweet spot

Jeremy Berman wants to give everybody the scoop on his Upper East Side neighborhood: It’s an ice cream lover’s sweet spot.

The 28-year-old lawyer eats three dips of the gourmet stuff every week, so he knows. He walks out his door at Second Avenue and 83rd Street, heads south a block, and strolls through what he calls Dairy Row — a line of shops that all serve cold treats.

He thinks the sight is so odd that the city should rename the stretch Dairy Row — and he’s lobbying to do just that.

“Six places on the same block — bizarre,” he told The Post. “You wouldn’t think they’d want to all be together. “

On the west side of Second between 81st and 82nd stand three frozen dessert specialty chains — Anita La Mamma Del Gelato, 16 Handles and Pinkberry. Sprinkled in are three others with wider offerings: Ateaz Organic Coffee &Tea dishes up gelato in the summertime; BurgerFi is all about shakes, concretes and frozen custard; and Insomnia Cookies sells ice cream sandwiches — one scoop or two.

Pinkberry manager Josh Torres has regulars like Berman. They drop in every other day or so. But walk-in business is slow — in the spring because of the coronavirus, these days the cold weather.

Grady Schirf, 7, gets his gelato as mom Colleen Schirf looks on at the Anita Gelato store
Grady Schirf, 7, gets his gelato as mom Colleen Schirf looks on at the Anita Gelato storeHelayne Seidman

Torres claims he doesn’t have a sweet tooth, but admits he indulges every so often in his favorite flavor: dairy-free coconut.

Right now, Berman is hooked on Anita’s pistachio-halva combo, an ultra-smooth concoction he calls “simply amazing.”

Rebecca Henseler and her 5-year-old daughter, Kazimiera, like Anita, too. But they spread their business around when they ride the bus once a week from East Harlem.

Wherever the two go, Henseler opts for pistachio or cookies ‘n’ crème and Kazimiera sticks with her tried-but-true vanilla or chocolate.

“The ice cream places are really good. It’s a pretty block,” Henseler told The Post, adding that naming the area Dairy Row would be “great.”

To make his case for a special designation, Berman cites precedent — Restaurant Row, the line of eateries on West 46th between Eighth and Ninth; and Theater Row, the group of Off-Broadway playhouses on West 42nd, also between Eighth and Ninth.

Ava Leibowitz,12, enjoys her gelato at the Anita Gelato store
Ava Leibowitz,12, enjoys her gelato at the Anita Gelato storeHelayne Seidman

And he is determined to see his idea through, especially because of the tough economic times.

“If I can help these businesses stay open during this terrible pandemic,” Berman said, “that would be wonderful.”

First, he’s getting the word out in the community. Then, he’s talking with his Council member, Ben Kallos. Kallos is all in. On Thursday, over the phone, he unofficially proclaimed the block to be Dairy Row.

“Anything that brings more local and foreign tourists to benefit small business, I love it,” Kallos told The Post.

If Berman wants to put a secondary street sign on the corner — and he does — there’s an official process that starts with the community board and ends with the Council. He hasn’t put the wheels in motion yet.

Anita Gelato store Yorkville
A young customer points to a selection at the Anita Gelato store (Anita La Mamma Del Gelato) on Second Ave. and East 81st St. in YorkvilleHelayne Seidman

Kallos doesn’t expect any snags so long as he and Berman have the public’s backing: “Let’s get it done.”

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