Gelato 101 Encinitas Temporarily Closed Following Truck Accident – Here's What You Need to Know
Last Updated: October 2025
On the evening of October 8th, 2025, our beloved Gelato 101 Encinitas location at 480 South Coast Highway 101 was struck by a vehicle, resulting in significant damage to our building and the temporary closure of our shop.
What Happened: The Gelato 101 Crash
At approximately 6:00 PM on Wednesday, October 8th, a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado rear-ended another vehicle on Coast Highway 101 near D Street. The truck then veered off the roadway and crashed through the front of our Gelato 101 Encinitas shop.
At the time of the accident, several customers were inside the shop, including 9-year-old River, who was enjoying gelato with his family. River was trapped beneath the vehicle but was quickly freed by first responders and bystanders who rushed to help. He was transported to Rady Children's Hospital, where he was treated for a broken arm and collarbone.
River is Home and Recovering
We are incredibly relieved to share that River is now home, safe, and recovering well. River and his family have been part of our Gelato 101 family for years—his parents are local business owners just down the street, and River has been one of our most loyal customers.
We recently visited River and posted this update on our Instagram:
"This team is going to go a long way together! Safe to say River held up better than our building did, what a superhero!!! He is already working on coming up with ideas for our 'the River' flavor, to be featured on the menu once we re-open. This guy will grow up on unlimited supply of Gelato and probably serve it to you one day in the not so distant future. We are looking forward to be part of his past, present and future."
River's strength and positive spirit have inspired all of us, and we can't wait to welcome him back when we reopen.
Current Status of Gelato 101 Encinitas
The truck has been removed from the building, but the damage was extensive. The vehicle struck a structural beam, which has complicated the repair process. We're working with contractors and engineers to assess the full scope of work needed, and we're currently estimating a reopening timeline of several months.
We don't have a firm reopening date yet, but we're committed to rebuilding and coming back stronger than ever. We'll continue to share updates on our Instagram page as we make progress.
Where to Get Your Gelato Fix While We Rebuild
Good news: We're still serving! While our Encinitas location is closed, you can visit our other San Diego County locations:
Gelato 101 Solana Beach
Just 4 miles south on Coast Highway 101!
📍 Visit Gelato 101 Solana Beach
153 N Hwy 101 Suite 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
nado gelato Coronado Island
📍 Visit Gelato 101 Coronado
1017 C Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Both locations are open and ready to serve you the same authentic Italian gelato you know and love.
How You Can Help: Support Our Recovery
The damage from the Gelato 101 accident has resulted in overwhelming costs that insurance won't fully cover. We've launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with building repairs, equipment replacement, refurnishing, and reopening costs.
Every donation—big or small—makes a difference.
👉 Donate to Help Rebuild Gelato 101 Encinitas
If you can't donate, sharing our GoFundMe page with friends and family helps tremendously.
Thank You, Encinitas!
The outpouring of love and support from our community has been overwhelming. This isn't just about a gelato shop—it's about a gathering place where families create memories, where teens work their first jobs, and where neighbors become friends.
We're committed to returning stronger and continuing to serve the community we love. Gelato 101 Encinitas will be back, and when we reopen, we'll be celebrating with River and his family, featuring "the River" flavor on our menu.
Until then, we'll see you 4 miles south in Solana Beach or across the bridge in Coronado.
Stay updated:
Follow us on Instagram: @gelato101encinitas
Gelato 101 is a family-owned business dedicated to bringing authentic Italian gelato to San Diego County. Founded by David Arato in 2019, our Encinitas location has been a community staple for families, friends, and gelato lovers throughout North County.
