At long last, the neighborhood welcomed its own gelato shop when Paciugo Lakewood opened for business Aug. 31.

Owner April Charlemagne-Walding and staff worked 12-14 hours a day during the home stretch to make sure the shop was ready to go.

While she's busy just now getting a new business off the ground, Charlemagne-Walding said she has plans for the store that stretch beyond its door. She already offers catering service, and hopes to expand that segment in neighborly ways such as providing gelato to neighborhood association meetings or honors list celebrations at Woodrow Wilson High School.

She also hopes the shop becomes something of a hangout for Woodrow students after football games.

And, oh yeah, there's this as a kind of reverse housewarming gift to the neighborhood.