A large wooden deck held bright balloons whipping in the wind, an amber honeycomb painting and a playful chalkboard with marks from The Hive’s first customers.
B’z Gelati opened its first brick-and-mortar location, called The Hive, at 1130 NW 23rd Ave on Saturday. The brand’s home base expanded the business model from food trucks and its Turlington Plaza location on UF’s campus.
After finding B’z from a spontaneous sweet treat Google search, 39-year-old Chris Heaslett enjoyed a Mint Chocolate Chip gelati — a layered treat of Italian ice and ice cream.
He said he loved the atmosphere, including the wooden seating area and wall, and is already planning his next trip.
“I really enjoy small-town places,” Heaslett said. “Gainesville doesn’t have enough of the locals.”
All day, the shop offered BOGO gelatis, specialty flavors and Gator merch giveaways to entice customers.
Former food truck owner Melissa Gray, 57, described her excitement for the convenience of a permanent location.
“Before, I’d have to go hunt them down,” she said. “Now, I automatically know where to go.”
Brandon Grabhorn, a 31-year-old UF alumnus, started B’z Gelati after graduating with a business degree in 2018. A childhood love of gelati and a family of Gator graduates gave Grabhorn the nudge to stay in Gainesville.
Since the birth of B’z in 2018, he has honed in on one mission: To spread love with every gelati sold.
“We’re just trying to make an impact on our community,” Grabhorn said.
B’z has worked with sponsoring and fundraising for local schools, churches, hospitals, pet adoption centers and youth organizations.
The brand is mostly family-run with help from UF students.
B’z stays true to its bee mascot by incorporating unfiltered organic honey into its homemade ice cream recipe. All of the products are made fresh at a production facility nearby.
To engage with the community, Grabhorn’s mom, 63-year-old Susan Grabhorn, came up with the idea for a plant exchange on the side of the yellow building. She wanted people to have a memorable way to interact and share.
“It’s an experience,” she said. “It’s about friends, community and family.”
Limited-edition flavors will be rotated and only available at The Hive. Currently, Italian ice flavors include Pineapple, B’z Blood, Root Beer, Banana Pudding and Pink Lemonade. For ice cream, sweet treat lovers can enjoy Peppermint Cookies and Cream and Birthday Cake.
The Hive is open Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 10 p.m. and noon to 10 p.m. on the weekends.
This week, there will be a daily drawing for 5 free small gelatis.
In the future, B’z staff plans to add a treehouse that can be reserved for dates and special occasions.
Contact Summer Johnston at sjohnston@alligator.org. Follow her on X @summerajohnston.
