Exploring Life & Business with Simone Acciai of Dolcenero Gelato

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Acciai.

Hi Simone, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I came to Santa Monica fourteen years ago from Florence, Italy, originally for a six-month English course in Westwood. The plan was simple: study, improve my English, and go back home. But I fell in love with this city the moment I arrived and knew I wanted to stay.
I didn’t have connections or a business plan — just a dream and a passion for gelato. Immigration isn’t easy, so I asked myself what I could bring from Italy that felt authentic. That’s how Dolcenero was born.
It was risky, and I was young and inexperienced, but sometimes not knowing how hard something will be gives you the courage to start. I moved forward one step at a time: learning the business, building relationships, and slowly becoming part of the community — listening before talking, giving before taking, loving before being loved.
Scoop after scoop, smile after smile, Dolcenero grew. Today, after 11 years, we’ve been voted Santa Monica’s Best Dessert eight years in a row. I’m proud not just of the gelato, but of the relationships we’ve built and the families who have grown up coming to our shop. What started as a dream to stay in Los Angeles became a life built around hard work, gratitude, and community.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all — it’s been anything but smooth.
Even though I came here legally, starting a life and a business in a new country came with challenges I never imagined. Simple things that most people take for granted were suddenly obstacles. I didn’t have a Social Security number at first, which meant no credit score — try finding an apartment without that. Opening a bank account was difficult. Opening a business account felt impossible. Asking for a loan was out of the question.
Even getting a driver’s license was complicated — as an immigrant it’s only valid for the length of your visa, so I had to renew it many times. There were moments when I missed the renewal window and had to take buses and walk long distances just to meet brokers and look at potential spaces. I still remember showing up dressed professionally but sweating from the trip, trying to explain my situation.
On top of that, I was learning everything from scratch — production, cleaning, serving customers, bookkeeping — while navigating immigration paperwork, financial pressure, and long hours. Staying in business also meant staying in the country, so the stakes always felt higher.
As an immigrant, I also felt a strong responsibility to do things the right way. I’ve seen situations where people from my own country behaved poorly — cutting corners, taking advantage of others, or fitting negative stereotypes — and I’ve even been taken advantage of myself because of my inexperience. I hate that, because one person’s actions can shape how an entire culture is perceived. I believe it’s important to hold ourselves to a higher standard, to be honest, respectful, and professional, especially when you’re building a life in someone else’s country.
But all of these challenges taught me resilience. I learned to take things one day at a time, focus on quality, treat people well, and keep moving forward. Every obstacle became part of the journey — and looking back, those difficult moments shaped both me and Dolcenero.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dolcenero is an artisan gelato shop on Main Street in Santa Monica, specializing in small-batch, made-from-scratch Italian gelato and sorbet. Everything we serve is produced in-house using high-quality ingredients, traditional Italian techniques, and recipes I’ve developed over years of experimentation and refinement.
What sets us apart is our commitment to freshness, simplicity, and authenticity. We don’t use pre-made bases or artificial flavorings — our gelato is made fresh regularly, with real fruit, real nuts, and carefully sourced ingredients like Sicilian pistachios. We focus on balance and flavor rather than excessive sweetness, staying true to classic Italian gelato while adapting to what our community loves.
We’ve been honored to be voted Santa Monica’s Best Dessert eight years in a row, which means more to me than any award — because it comes directly from the people who walk through our doors every day.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is consistency. Customers trust that every visit will feel familiar and welcoming, whether it’s their first time or their hundredth. Dolcenero is a place where families gather, neighbors meet, and small moments are celebrated.
I want readers to know that behind every scoop there is real craftsmanship, care, and gratitude. Dolcenero isn’t just about gelato — it’s about creating a warm, joyful experience and being a small but meaningful part of this community.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Perseverance — combined with humility.
You have to be willing to work hard, stay consistent, and keep showing up even when things feel overwhelming. But just as important is remembering that you’re entering a community as a guest. You earn your place by listening, respecting people, and genuinely caring about what you’re building.
As an immigrant entrepreneur, I also feel a responsibility to represent where I come from in a positive way. I believe success isn’t just about making a great product — it’s about being a good person, building trust, and creating something meaningful for others.
That mindset guides everything I do at Dolcenero.
I came here as a student with a six-month plan. I stayed because I believed in a dream — and I’m still here because this community believed in me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dolcenerogelato.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolcenerosm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolceneroSantaMonica
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dolcenero-gelato-santa-monica-2?osq=Dolcenero+Gelato