If you've been to a market or outdoor event around the Bay area, you've probably run into Whatever Pops.
The Tampa-based craft ice pop and gelato company began as a cart serving local events, and later incorporated a "pint-size" food truck to cool off more customers. Soon, Whatever Pops will open its first brick-and-mortar shop, called Whatever Pops & Bowls, a couple doors down from The Refinery. Its bright green Seminole Heights building sits at 5127 N. Florida Ave.
It's taken Whatever Pops, launched in May 2011, about five years to get to this point. According to Steve McGlocklin, Whatever Pops's chief chiller, it felt natural to transition to a full-time store.
"We always thought we should progress," McGlocklin said. "Getting a store was the next step in our growth as a company."
Wanting to be creative, healthy and not-so-serious, he and his wife, Nancy, decided to give the ice pop pursuit a try. Many of their flavors came from hours spent in the kitchen with a blender and ’80s music blaring. The two got engaged the same day they decided to start their business.
Whatever Pops isn't the only pop dealer in town. The Hyppo, a gourmet popsicle peddler that originated in downtown St. Augustine, has expanded into Tampa Bay with locations in Ybor City and downtown St. Pete (another's coming to Hyde Park Village). There are also other folks who've entered the pop-cart game at food truck events, just as the McGlocklins did.
In Seminole Heights, Whatever Pops will join the ranks of neighborhood greats along North Florida Avenue. The street has become a prime strip for local eateries and bars over the last few years, and the community continues to grow into a culinary destination with each new addition.
"[Seminole Heights] is vibrant, and it's got character. We love being part of a community that supports local, independent restaurants — and ramen," McGlocklin said.
While construction is nearly complete, there's still a ton of prep work to be done on the new space. The plan now is for Whatever Pops to debut, at the latest, on Thanksgiving Day, but McGlocklin told CL he had wanted to open before that.
"It's taken much longer than we hoped," he said. "Having five years of experience in the business already has helped us be resilient."
A physical store means Whatever Pops & Bowls can expand its menu. The shop is set to feature a huge selection of house-made ice pops and gelato, and will also incorporate açaí bowls, smoothies, coffee, fresh OJ and waffles on a stick. Guests will even have the option of dipping their favorite pop in chocolate and throwing on some toppings.
For the McGlocklins, it's all about enjoying a treat that's as healthy as possible while having fun. The shop will showcase familiar flavors, including Arnold Palmer or fruit punch, as well as more imaginative flavors like ginger plum and apple cider rosemary.
Keep up with the opening of Whatever Pops & Bowls (and check out where to find the cart on weekends) via Facebook. Event information and locations are usually posted at least a few days in advance.
This article appears in Nov 3-10, 2016.