Happy Cow — Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato & Fresh-Baked Treats!

By Gary Nager | June 8

Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt
Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt

If you’ve been reading this publication the last year or so, you know just how many frozen yogurt places already have opened in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and that there are still more on the way.

So, how does a new frozen yogurt place separate itself from its competition? Well, for University of South Florida grad (and Marketing major) Ray Perez and his aunt and uncle, Connie and Bill Rogers — the owners of the new Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Gelato located between First Watch and Bonefish Grill in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza just north of the Pasco County line on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — the answer is pretty easy:

Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel Troy Stevenson (left) joined Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Gelato owners (l. to r.) Connie Rogers, Ray Perez & Bill Rogers at the store’s Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on May 10.
Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel Troy Stevenson (left) joined Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Gelato owners (l. to r.) Connie Rogers, Ray Perez & Bill Rogers at the store’s Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on May 10.

You come up with a cute cartoon logo and serve a brand of frozen yogurt (plus soft-serve gelato and sorbets) that no one else in the area has, in a brightly-colored, comfortable setting and add truly fresh-baked, decadent brownies (Ray says the brownies, photo right, are intentionally not cooked all the way through, so they retain that perfect, moist chewiness), cookies and waffle cups — and more than 60 toppings!

If that still doesn’t sound ‘different enough’ to you, check out what keeps calling a certain publisher back to Happy Cow. At the far end of the huge toppings bar, you’ll find four large containers with pump tops that allow you to add your choice of hot fudge, hot marshmallow sauce, hot peanut butter and hot caramel fudge to your frozen creation. I can even now put my choice of those hot toppings on yogurt flavors like the new Rocky Road, as well as favorites like cappuccino, birthday cake, peanut butter and tangy fruit flavors like margarita fat-free sorbet and even Italian biscotti gelato.

Toppings galore at Happy Cow including hot and fresh baked brownies and cookies.
Toppings galore at Happy Cow including hot and fresh baked brownies and cookies.

“We have our oven right up front, so when we bake fresh brownies, cookies or waffle cups, people walk in and tell us they just love the aroma in here,” Ray, the former manager of the Burger Monger (located just a few doors down in the same plaza), says. “And it only takes 10-13 minutes to bake a new batch if we’re out when you arrive.”

And Happy Cow, which celebrated its Grand Opening with a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on May 10, also has frozen quarts of their always-rotating flavors, as well as T-shirts, cooler bags and other cool gear, plus a great loyalty program where you can win free “stuff” and franchising opportunities.

For more information about Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt (1646 BBD), call 428-5929 or visit and “Like” the shop’s page on Facebook.

BB&T Opens NT Branch

Meanwhile, in New Tampa, while a few of us still miss having a Krispy Kreme Donuts shop at the corner of BBD and Doña Michelle Dr., just north of I-75 in New Tampa, there’s no doubt that the new BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust Co.) Bank that recently opened in the space previously occupied by Krispy Kreme, is already a great community partner.Continue reading

Lots Of Chamber Ribbon Cuttings

The months of April and May are among the busiest for local schools, but students, educators and PTA members aren’t alone. This also is one of the busiest Ribbon Cutting seasons each year, and the WCCC certainly is keeping things so busy, we haven’t been able to get to every such event…but we keep trying.Continue reading

WingHouse Set To Open By The End Of May

One of the recent items in this space that generated a lot of interest was the announcement of the planned opening of the new Ker’s WingHouse in the former Buffalo’s SW CafĂ© building on S.R. 54, just east of the entrance to Lexington Oaks.Continue reading

Nibbles & Bytes: A roundup of local dining news

Frances Belisle
New Tampa Financial Center leader Frances Belisle (with scissors) cuts the ribbon, with members of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, at the new BB&T Bank branch on Doña Michelle Dr. at Bruce B. Downs Blvd. on Apr. 16.

The latest &greatest news about dining, shopping, retail and more in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

World Of Beer to leave, Ciccio’s to replace it?

Although former Tampa Palms Ciccio’s Lodge managing partner Robert Garofano couldn’t confirm anything about his restaurant reopening in the same space, we do know for certain that the World of Beer (WoB) in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms is closing — and could already be closed as early as the day you receive this issue in your mailboxes.

The WoB anchor space in this difficult plaza with limited parking and tiny parking spaces (which originally was expected to be an Old Chicago restaurant) has been through a few different incarnations since the plaza opened five or so years ago, but WoB definitely seemed to be the most successful endeavor in that location, especially considering how successful some of the other WoB locations are (including the two nearest to us now.

Garofano says that the Ciccio’s management group, which also owns multiple successful restaurants in South Tampa (including Water sushi restaurant, Daily Eats, The Lodge, The Lime and Ciccio’s), has been looking at the WoB space, but at our press time, no announcement was imminent.

We hope you’ll check our website, NTNeighborhoodNews.com, for updates about Ciccio’s, a possible new location for Sushi Tsu Japanese restaurant and other same-day dining news. If we get any finalized, announce-able dining info before our next issue hits your mailboxes, we will make it our “News Item of the Day” on our website, so stay tuned!

Coffee Beanery also closing?

Although, at our press time, no formal announcement had been made, despite our efforts to reach the owners, we have been told by a reliable source that the Coffee Beanery Café in the same Shoppes at The Pointe plaza also was getting ready to close.

We also know that the Beanery hasn’t replaced its broken espresso machine for several months (not a good sign for a coffee shop) and I personally was on hand at the Beanery more than once (because I’m a fan) when the space was being shown by Realtors to possible new tenants during regular business hours, which isn’t good for business if a place plans to stay open. But, we’ll keep you posted.

BB&T cuts a ribbon at former Krispy Kreme locale

Although a few of us miss having a Krispy Kreme Donuts shop at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Doña Michelle Dr., just north of I-75, there’s no doubt that the new BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust Co.) Bank that recently opened in the space previously occupied by Krispy Kreme, is already proving to be a great community partner.

Continue reading