Strength in flexibility: West Orange Creamery and Soda Fountain

Editor’s note: Strength in Flexibility is an ongoing series highlighting changes local businesses are making to adapt to life during the coronavirus pandemic. 

When many businesses were being forced to shut down or adapt their models in the face of COVID-19, Jo Eveland was convinced her ice-cream shop was going under.

However, much to her surprise, the pandemic’s impact has done anything but that.

Eveland owns West Orange Creamery and Soda Fountain in Ocoee. The ice-cream shop is categorized as an essential business, falling under the restaurant category, and has been operating through in-house delivery services.

“We actually completely changed the way we operate,” Eveland said. “We, of course, immediately shut down our dining area … and truly (for) the safety of the girls that work with me. We do deliveries in the house to keep the girls employed, and we can serve our people.”

The shutdown convinced Eveland at one point the West Orange Creamery would be taken down with it. But although business isn’t operating the way it did pre-coronavirus, Eveland said the community has come through to support her and her team like never before.

The business began offering bundles instead of focusing on scoops. It sold many pints of ice cream and even created ice-cream survival kits. The kits come with three pints of ice cream and all the toppings necessary to make sundaes at home. 

Because the creamery also has a beer and wine license, the team has been able to sell boozy float kits, which have been a big hit.

Eveland never had to fire or furlough any of her staff. In fact, she actually had to bring on more help, thanks to the response from the community. Some customers have banded together with others in their neighborhoods to place bulk orders of pints and survival kits. Transactions have gone from an average of a few dollars to $30. 

“We doubled our staff,” she said. “People were looking to support us, so by no means does the success have anything to do with us changing our operations, because if people don’t show up, it doesn’t matter how much you change your operation. If they’re not there to help you and support you, it doesn’t matter.”

The first part of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ phased approach to reopening the state kicked in Monday, May 4, and Eveland made a hesitant decision to reopen the dining room at the maximum 25% capacity. Her top priority remains the safety of both her team and customers, and she will take the “new normal” one day at a time.

No more than 10 guests at a time are allowed in the dining room, although outdoor seating is open. Tables have been measured, and everything will be disinfected as needed. The team isn’t offering tasters at the moment, and the board games will remain put away. Curbside pickup and delivery options will remain available.

“Never in a million years did I think that our ice-cream shop would be so resilient and so needed in a pandemic,” she said. “I had no idea. I said, ‘This is it, we’re going under. We won’t make it out of this.’ We’re fairly new, and ice cream is tough business. … What I’ve learned is No. 1, it’s a comfort food. It brings joy. Finding those little things that can bring you joy through uncertain times is monumental. It’s so important for your heart and mental health, being able to keep some normalcy. We were really blown away to find out that ice cream in our little shop brings so much joy, and it’s really a resilient business model.

“We’ve always done things for the community, but it’s so crazy how they are just reversing it on us right now and just really showing up for us,” Eveland said.