When Kassandra Rodriguez, a 25-year-old social coordinator, wants a sweet treat, her cravings call her to the closest dessert shop. Near UF campus, it’s quite the hike.
After Sweet Dreams Ice Cream closed in 2023, Gainesville experienced a lack of sweet treats within walking distance of UF campus, and Alachua County residents have suffered. Businesses such as Ice Eatery — an ice cream, waffle and crêpes shop — aim to fill this hole. For those with a sweet tooth, the eatery faces strong competition from another downtown location — Charlie’s Snow Shack, a shaved ice shop.
Rodriguez said both cost and location are crucial to an ideal sweet treat experience. Although she goes to Ice Eatery more often due to its proximity, Charlie’s Snow Shack is her overall preference, and she appreciates that it’s both a hidden gem and a small Black-owned business.
Fortunately for Rodriguez, Charlie’s Snow Shack is in the process of acquiring permission from UF to be a campus event vendor in 2025. Cody Sheppard, a 32-year-old student dean at Gainesville High School, is one of the dessert shop’s owners.
Although many student organizations have reached out to do campus events, he said he wishes more students knew about the brick-and-mortar location. Just a quick drive away at 14 NW Seventh Ave,the shop is popular among students once they find it, Sheppard said.
After he bought the store about a year ago, Sheppard said, one way he attempted to bring in new customers was by introducing flavor combinations as seasonal specials, such as “Rainbow,” which includes pineapple, strawberry and blue raspberry all in one snow cone.
Although many customers find comfort in classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, Josefina Ontivero, a 20-year-old UF architecture sophomore, feels the opposite and loves the opportunity to experience a changing menu. While having a dessert location next door would be tempting, she said going to the same place and eating the same food can get boring.
“I also think there’s something special about having to go out of your way to get to these places,” she said.
Ontivero is a self-proclaimed lover of good branding and doesn’t hesitate to seek out a sweet treat she sees in a social media post.
Ice Eatery, a dessert shop with more than 1,000 followers on Instagram, is known for its convenient location and its oversized Uno cards. Located at 1025 W University Ave, less than half a mile from UF campus, the shop draws in students by offering an Uno challenge. Groups of five customers can come in, play the game and compete against each other to win a $10 credit for its treats.
This unique offering attracts customers, but Eros Puentes, the 36-year-old general manager, said customers typically visit for the first time because of the location. When they come back, though, it’s because they liked what they ate.
“When we give them crêpes, they leave the plates empty,” he said.
Puentes is married to Ice Eatery’s 40-year-old owner, Maria Puentes, and said he finds pride in running the shop side-by-side and seeing customers come in to enjoy dessert and play some Uno.
Contact Rachel Mish at rmisch@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mish_rache62827.
Rachel Mish is a junior English and business major and the Fall 2024 Food Reporter for The Avenue. In her free time, she enjoys playing pick-up basketball or sewing a gameday outfit.
