Dear Dartmouth,
As most of us pull through week 9 (is that right? Are we this far?), a few recent, major newsmakers caught all of us off-guard. The first came ten days past, as Morano Gelato—a Hanover darling and Dartmouth favorite—announced they were closing their doors. Permanently. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that even the most beloved and quality small businesses are not immune to the economic and public health uncertainty of what will be an infamous year. Morano Gelato delivered spot-on gelato with every visit; the gelateria even provided first-year students free cups for publishing DartWrite platforms. Their technique was superb, and visitors quickly understood the care and attention Morano paid to its product and its customers. And, their affogato—a godlike treat of gelato (preferably ricotta) and hot espresso on top—was the ideal solution for a winter day where you still craved something sweet. I visited Morano with my mom and dad the first time I traveled to Dartmouth. My last memory with my dad in Hanover—my father passed away last September—was at Morano. I’ll always recall the way he waxed poetic about the spumoni.
A few days ago, we were blindsided by the news that KAF @ Baker, a Dartmouth mainstay since 2011, was closing. The later details underscored that this closure was mostly unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it was a stunning blow to the library and on-campus culinary scene. I went to KAF on a daily basis (sometimes twice a day) to enjoy the great coffee and pastry options before a 10 or to kick off my Tuesday study sessions at FFB.
Unfortunately, the closure of KAF and Morano reflects the new, constant uncertainty that we as humans and Dartmouth students face. The Dartmouth that we loved (and maybe hated sometimes) will not be the same when we eventually return.
If you want to support local businesses in the Hanover area, check out this article for some great suggestions.
With love, gratitude, and hope,
Carter Welch ’23
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