By Chris Wilson

Whether you need to pick up breakfast or lunch on-the-go or want to take the family out for an evening of cold treats, the Working Cow Café and Creamery is a choice that will not disappoint. The name is hardly a joke, as owners (and spouses) Stacey and Josh Rosenblatt and their staff keep the store open for 14 or 15 hours at a time almost all seven days each week (they’re “only” open for twelve and a half hours on Sunday). But, the Rosenblatts say it’s all in a days’ work and the reward is seeing their customers smile over their delicious treats.

Working Cow Café & Creamery is a fun, friendly, vibrant place, where you can find 32 flavors of premium ice cream, fresh gourmet coffee and coffee drinks, herbal tea, smoothies and other beverages and fresh baked items, including jumbo muffins, cookies, New York bagels, croissant and scones. Working Cow’s Jet Intense smoothies have green tea and fresh fruit, which makes them high in anti-oxidents and vitamins. The store serves breakfast sandwiches on bagels and croissant and has a number of lunch sandwiches, including chicken salad, tuna salad and hot dogs.

“Our ice cream is made in St. Petersburg, Florida,” says Stacey. “It’s made in small batch freezers, so it has less air and is a creamier product.”

Among the 32 flavors are three sugar-free selections, including Raspberry Dream, Butter Pecan and Gatortracks. There also are two lower calorie frozen yogurt offerings, including Heathbar Crunch and Georgia Peach. Stacey says her favorite is Raspberry Truffle, which has raspberries and decadent chocolate truffles. She says the Superman flavor, which has a wild mix of vibrant colors, gets enthusiastic thumbs up from the kids. Crazy Cake, which has yellow cake, frosting and sprinkles mixed into the ice cream, Banana Pudding and Cow Tracks, which has peanut butter cups and chocolate swirls, also are among the store’s most popular tastes.

The Rosenblatts also make waffle cones and waffle bowls on-site. Customers can mix any of the 32 ice cream flavors to make their unique milk shake. Other favorites include the IBC Root Beer float and the many delightful sundaes.

Josh and Stacey have 20 years of combined experience in business and the restaurant industry. Josh has a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked in restaurant management prior to opening Working Cow Café about seven months ago. “Together, we make a great team,” says Stacey.

The team decorated the store with vibrant colors. “It was not easy to try to match the little squares of color,” says Stacey. “We also have a game wall for kids to play during their visits.” The store also features Sirius Satellite special events, such as Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” concert.

Working Cow also has a meeting/party room available for private functions of up to 20 people, including birthday parties. There are catering platters available with scones, muffins and cookies. The restaurant also can rent out an ice cream cart for private functions or fund raisers.

Working Cow Café also has gotten involved in the community through its support of Tyler’s Hope, a foundation set up by the Staab family of Gainesville to fight dystonia, a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which force certain parts of the body into abnormal, sometimes painful, movements or postures.

Working Cow Café & Creamery is loacated in the Tower Square shopping plaza behind Watson Realty, at the corner of Tower Rd. and Archer Rd. The store is open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday; 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Call 378-8228.