Gator Surprises Worker At Downtown New Port Richey Ice Cream Shop

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A downtown New Port Richey ice cream shop had a surprise visitor Thursday afternoon — a nearly 4-foot-long gator.

The gator showed up on the patio at Cotee River Creamery, 6345 Grand Blvd., just before noon, as an employee was setting up umbrellas and preparing to open for the day, owner George Stacy told Patch.

“She was there and took a picture of it,” he said, adding, “I was watching on the camera and it went away. I don’t know where it went. I’m assuming it went back in the lake. That’s gotta be where it came from.”

They called the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission about the gator, but because they didn’t know where the reptile went, there was nothing the agency could do, Stacy said.

Being so close to the water, the creamery is used to wildlife stopping by for a visit.

“We have ducks. We have animals all over the place — but we never have gators,” he said. “I’ve never seen alligators on our patio ever.”

While the gator was entertaining, it ultimately “wasn’t a big deal,” Stacy added. “We’re Floridians. There was a gator. What are you gonna do? It’s no different than a bug.”

He purchased the creamery’s building from the city about four years ago.

In addition to renting space to other tenants, including a brewery and a pizzeria, he initially operated his own tech business from the building, as well.

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Then, he switched gears during the COVID-19 pandemic and launched the ice cream company.

While it might seem like a big change to many, “it’s all business. I’m an entrepreneur; it’s what I do,” Stacy said. “It’s just a different product and different marketing. That’s what it comes down to when you’re in business. You cater to a market segment and make it work.”

Cotee River Creamery has grown significantly since it first opened. It operates a second store in Spring Hill, as well as a food truck that serves ice cream at events throughout the area.

A third store is in the works in Pasco County and Stacy is also mulling over a potential location for a second manufacturing facility.