This is another post in my series of stories about 20th Century Americana, which I use as story starters and for helping with oral histories. Most of these subjects bring back great memories to the people who lived through the 20th century, maybe even YOU!
The Dari-Joy is a small ice cream restaurant at 140 Rockingham Road in Bellows Falls, Vermont, across the street from the Connecticut River. This is another installment of the 20th Century Americana series at this blog, where I feature unique places and things across New England that were established or made in the 20th century. Maybe you, your parents, your grandparents, or even your great-grandparents remember visiting a place like this for snacks and ice cream.
The Dari-Joy restaurant was established in 1953 by the DeMuzio family. For decades we had driven by this little ice cream stand on our way to the Vermont Country Store in Rockingham, Vermont. Recently we finally decided to stop by and have lunch. We each had a fine plate of fish and chips, and were tempted by the ice cream menu. The interior of the restaurant was decorated with photos from the last 50 years of the restaurant, which started as a walk up window and now has expanded to indoor dining. It was so cute that I decided to include Dari-Joy in my 20th Century Americana series.
There is a statue of "Big Boy" on the roof, and lots of colorful booths and juke boxes inside. Dining here is like stepping back into the 1950s. They serve burgers, fried seafood, sandwiches, hot dogs, and of course ice cream both hard and soft serve. Wednesdays are prime rib specials. It's cash only, with and ATM in the dining room.
The Dari-Joy is open seasonally April to October. I hope you can visit soon!
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| 1953 newsclipping about Dari-Joy opening |
For the truly curious:
Dari-Joy at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Darijoyrestaurant
The Rutland Herald, "50 Years of (Dari) Joy", 17 October 2018 https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/50-years-of-dari-joy/article_76f9a927-738a-5c5f-891f-e40d463fc5b5.html
Click here to see more 20th Century Americana at the Nutfield Genealogy blog: https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/20th%20Century%20Americana
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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Dari Joy, Bellows Falls, Vermont", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 16, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/09/dari-joy-bellows-falls-vermont.html: accessed [access date]).
