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Big Gay Ice Cream Shop opening in Philly

Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff say they secured a spot in the new SouthStar development at Broad and South Streets.

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop - which started five years ago as a New York City truck and quickly became a Thing - is preparing to set up its soft-serve goodness in Philadelphia.

Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff disclosed at Tuesday's 2014 Great Chefs Event - a fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and the Vetri Foundation - that they have secured a spot in the new SouthStar development coming to the northeast corner of Broad and South Streets.

Kevin Sbraga already is on board to create a restaurant on the corner. Big Gay will be on the South Street side.

Quint and Petroff are hoping for an August-September opening.

The deal was set into motion by attorney Phil Colicchio, a cousin of Top Chef's Tom Colicchio. Phil represents an assortment of chefs and restaurateurs, including Sbraga and Quint/Petroff. "It's my belief that their product and ethos would be a natural for Philadelphia," Colicchio said. "When Kevin signed [at SouthStar], I thought that location would be a no-brainer for them."

"We'll be among good company," said Petroff. "This is the epicenter of Philly - right near Amis, Vetri, Garces. I can see someone going to Amis [on 13th Street, two blocks away] for dinner and stopping here for dessert."

The partners opened their first store in 2011 in East Village, followed by a West Village location in 2012. They also are opening a store in downtown Los Angeles.