Meet Andrea Racca of Bobboi Natural Gelato in La Jolla

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Racca.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am from Sardinia, Italy, and the story goes that one day, I said I wanted to quit my job in Italy and move to the U.S., and then I did it. I had gone to the University of San Diego so had spent time here already, but then went back to Italy and San Diego was always on my mind. Thankfully, I had a friend who eventually became my business partner who also wanted to try something new, and we picked up and moved our families to San Diego together. We opened the first Bobboi Natural Gelato shop near La Jolla Cove in 2014, and it has been a beautiful process of growing, learning and figuring it out as we go. We are very excited to be growing the Bobboi brand this year and are in the process of opening our third location.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course not! We didn’t know the gelato business and it was the first time I had worked in the U.S. My wife and I had very different jobs in Italy. It’s not easy to be a business owner, but every day, we work hard and don’t take it for granted. One of the biggest struggles for us has been finding the right locations for our businesses. We started with our one shop in La Jolla but had been looking for additional locations for years. Earlier this year, we opened inside the Little Italy Food Hall, and we’re currently working hard to open our third location in Little Italy on Kettner Boulevard.

Bobboi Natural Gelato – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Bobboi Natural Gelato is the taste of California and Italy combined on a cone, in a cup or packed in a pint. Our gelato is made using timeless Italian techniques, and our flavors capture the essence of the sunshine state. We source the highest quality ingredients, almost all of them organic, from local purveyors in California, plus the best of the best Italian ingredients. Because of this, our product varies by the season, and flavors rotate based on what ingredients are available. Our gelato maker, Monica Maccioni (who happens to be my wife), is inspired by many things when coming up with flavors, whether it’s a place, a person or an ingredient. You’ll find flavors like Bourbon Salted Caramel, Berry Lavender and Golden Goat (with goat cheese, saffron and lemon zest) alongside gelato mainstays like pistachio and Stracciatella. We are most proud of establishing a customer base that brings us joy every day and allows us to bring cheer into their lives. We are also very proud of the relationships we’ve established with farmers over the years that allow us to have access to the highest quality ingredients for our gelato.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
When we are creating a product that is authentically our own and our customers respond to it.

Contact Info:

• Address: La Jolla Location: 8008 Girard Ave #150, La Jolla, CA 92037
  Little Italy Food Hall: 550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101
• Website: http://bobboi.com/
• Phone: (858) 255-8693
• Instagram: @bobboi_naturalgelato
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobboigelato/

Image Credit:
Dianna Sciacca

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