Dari Bee Ice Cream

A small summer-time location offering shakes, cold drinks. and ice cream along the East Bay Bike Path

About this Property

Redevelopment

It was announced in early 2024 that the owners of the Dari Bee were looking to sell. The prime real estate along the bike path was asking a quarter of a million dollars.

Business seems to be brisk in warmer months. Richmond Square has seen much business growth and turnover in the past few years as new owners have redeveloped the buildings and a new multi-unit apartment building was constructed by ONE Neighborhood Builders. With Borealis coffee, Union Bistro, and other nearby business, the Dari Bee will hopefully continue to be a bright spot along the bike path for a cold treat.

Current Events

The Dari Bee was open again in the summer of 2024. The listing at Residential Properties has been removed. The tax assessor’s database for this address continues to list Rosalie Silva as the owner.

History

An obituary states William Hevey operated the stand from 1950 until 1987. The “For Sale” news post mentions someone else, though, bu the name of John Tait. Not dates are mentioned.

A Sanborn Map from 19561 shows a structure at this location and an aerial photo from 19622 shows the same building shape. It may or may not be the same building as what we see today — it is difficult to tell based on the shape alone.

In the News

East Providence ice cream shop for sale

by Sarah Bawden
WPRI.com | February 9, 2024

An iconic Riverside Square ice cream shop is on the market.

Dari Bee, which first opened back in 1960, was listed for sale on Thursday.

The Bullocks Point Avenue ice cream shop is situated off of the East Bay Bike Path and is popular during the summer months.

An online listing for the ice cream shop notes that Dari Bee “has long been a favorite destination for both locals and tourists.”

The ice cream shop features a front canopy with large windows to serve customers, as well as a full basement with ample storage space. It also boasts a good-sized parking lot and concrete patio with numerous picnic tables where guests “can enjoy their treats.”

The asking price for the ice cream shop is $750,000. The property was last sold in 1997 for $78,000, according to the city’s online assessment database.

Dari Bee — which opens seasonally and is currently closed for the winter — offers a variety of sweets and treats, including hard and soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits and frozen lemonade.

The ice cream shop was originally established by local resident John Tait, and was later sold to the Silva family, according to a city report on Riverside Square released last year.

Captured 01 February 2025 from https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/east-bay/east-providence-ice-cream-shop-for-sale/


Obituaries

Providence Journal May 10, 2000 (abridged)

East Providence WILLIAM R. HEVEY, 99, of 1010 Willett Ave., Riverside, a sales supervisor for Narragansett Electric Co. for 40 years until he retired in 1966, died yesterday at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the husband of the late Beatrice (Brown) Hevey. Born in Warren, a son of the late Joseph and Celanise (Coutu) Hevey, he moved from Warren to Riverside in 1933. Mr. Hevey opened and operated the former Bee Hive Gift Shop in Riverside from 1945 to 1953. He opened and operated the Dari Bee Soft Ice Cream Stand in Riverside from 1950 until he retired in 1987. He was a 74-year member of Washington Lodge 3 F&AM in Warren. He was a member of the Riverside Congregational Church and a former member and deacon of the Warren Baptist Church, where he had been a member of the Men’s Club. He leaves a daughter, Lois B. Mamganelli of Riverside, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

“OBITUARIES.” Providence Journal (RI), All ed., sec. News, 10 May 2000, pp. D-02. NewsBank: America’s News, https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=D4BD6B42F1AB4706B5E1244D477DEE03&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews/152608D697435A50. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

  1. “Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.” Sanborn Map Company, 1956. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, page 59, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3774em.g3774em_g080831956 

  2. Providence Historical Aerial Viewer, enter address 240 Bullocks Point Avenue, East Providence.