[EXCLUSIVE] Morelli's Finds Familiar Home in Virginia Highland

The owners of Morelli's Ice Cream have reportedly leased the former Yogli Mogli in Virginia Highland for a new ice cream shop.  The lease would follow a known M.O. of the local operators of taking over former dessert shops.  Atlanta-born Yogli Mogli once had more than a dozen locations across five states but is today down to just five locations in total, four of which are in Georgia.  The Virginia Highland location (1002 North Highland Avenue) of the once popular fro yo shop, situated at the dynamic corner of Virginia and North Highland Avenues, closed quietly earlier this spring.  

Morelli's currently operates just one standalone ice cream shop.  Located at 749 Moreland Avenue in Ormewood Park, the Morelli's opened in 2008 in what was originally a Bruster's Real Ice Cream.  Another Morelli's was previously located in the Edgewood Retail District, also off Moreland Avenue, but it closed in 2016.  

In addition to the Moreland ice cream shop, husband and wife owners Donald Sargent and Clarissa Morelli also operate a mini shop within Farm Burger Dunwoody at Georgetown shopping center.  The couple also announced plans earlier this year to open a new stall in the Chattahoochee Food Works at The Works on the Westside.  

Sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that the new Morelli's should open by the end of the year, potentially as soon as November.  

Are you excited by the prospect of having Morelli's in Virginia Highland?  Did you even realize Yogli Mogli had closed?  What is your favorite [local] ice cream maker?

Please share your thoughts below.