10/31/2026
For 80 years, Burgess Refreshments has proudly called the same little spot in Leamington home.
Recently, a member of our community started a petition asking for Burgess Refreshments to be recognized and protected as a historic part of Leamington. We want everyone to know that this petition was not started by us. It came from someone in our community who believes Burgess and the memories connected to it are worth preserving.
The support we have seen since then has truly meant more to us than we can say. After reading so many heartfelt messages and seeing the genuine care people have expressed, we are deeply touched.
Since 1946, the area around us has changed tremendously. Buildings and businesses that once stood beside us are gone, but Burgess has remained. And we intend to remain right here.
We want to be clear that we have great respect for the Municipality of Leamington and for the people who serve on Council. We are excited for their future plans and we look forward to continue serving our community in the future from our current location. Our intention is not to create division, but to express gratitude and our continued respect for the Municipality of Leamington, its council, and the processes involved.
Burgess is more than an ice cream stand. It is a Leamington tradition. It is coming for a cone with someone you love. It is being brought here as a child, returning years later with your own children, and one day coming back as a grandparent to stand in the exact same spot and share that tradition with another generation.
Burgess Refreshments has never been just a business to us. It is a dream built on years of hard work, dedication, and commitment. But what makes this place truly special isn’t simply what we have built. It’s the people who have become part of it.The familiar faces, the conversations, the friendships, the families, and the memories created along the way. We hope the Municipality sees just how much history, tradition, and importance Burgess holds within this community. Some things simply cannot be replaced once they are gone.
From our Scoop and Rescue Program and giving back to our community, we are proud of where we came from and even more excited about where we are going. We plan to keep growing, keep giving back, and keep making memories right here in the same place we have called home since 1946.
For now, we want everyone to know that we are not going anywhere. We look forward to welcoming you back in March 2027.
To everyone who has signed, shared, supported us, reached out, offered encouragement, or simply stopped by for a cone over the years, we want to say thank you. You have reminded us that the true value of what we have built cannot be measured in bricks or dollars. It is measured in the relationships, memories, and sense of community that have grown around it.
Buildings may come and go, and the landscape may change, but you cannot erase 80 years of memories. You cannot destroy a Leamington tradition.
From our family to yours, thank you, Leamington. Your support means more to us than you will ever know.
With heartfelt gratitude, The Jitani Family
Burgess Refreshments
Since 1946
80 Years
Strong and Still Growing
