Totes Ice Cream serving up more than frozen treats in east Gainesville

Chef Steve Grimes has been cooking for 23 years in kitchens in cities across the U.S. and around the world.

In 2014, his culinary journey brought him to Gainesville to help open the now-closed Crane Ramen. He then opened his own restaurant, WayWard Fox, in November 2019, before serving as the chef at Swamp Boil on Southwest 13th Street.

The 42-year-old is now trying his hand at something a little different: ice cream.

Grimes is now the chef/operator of the recently opened Totes Ice Cream, located at 1714 SE Hawthorne Road in the former home of Southern Charm Kitchen.

"Every time I make it (ice cream) there's a spark of joy, just thinking about how much I like ice cream or how much I like doughnuts," he said. "And every day I get to make them and then I get to see the kids smile — dads with their daughters and moms with their sons — it's cool."

Grimes said the most unusual concoction he's ever made was a pork belly ice cream during his time at Crane Ramen, but you won't find that on the menu at Totes.

Local news: Gas station, restaurant proposed near corner of Newberry and Parker roads. Here's what we know.

Some of the options available Wednesday were Cookies & Cream, Butter Pecan, Rocky Road, Toffee and Fruity Pebbles. Dairy free options included Black Cherry Vanilla and Passion Fruit Blueberry.

Grimes said he planned to make a Tutti Frutti ice cream Wednesday afternoon after being asked by a customer if he could replicate the treat served at Leopold’s in Savannah, Georgia. Made with a rum ice cream, Grimes said he still plans to make the flavor his own.

"We're all about experiences here, and I don't want it to taste exactly like Häagen-Dazs. They can buy that at the store," he said. "It has to be a separate experience here."

The restaurant also serves milkshakes, homemade doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches.

Grimes said the decision to open an ice cream and doughnut shop had nothing to do with the recent closures late last year of Sweet Dreams and Halo Potato Donuts. He said an ice cream shop had been in the works with owner Greg Stetz since July 2023.

"It was not planned. It's not like I jumped on the opportunity," he said.

As for the doughnuts, Grimes said he figured he might as well make them if he was going to be at the business at 2 a.m. every day anyway.

"It just made sense," he said.

Grimes said he is working with other local business owners to get his products into their restaurants. Prepackaged ice cream is already available at Bragging Rights Amusements, an arcade also owned by Stetz, at 113 NW Eighth Ave.

Grimes is in the process of having a food truck wrapped that will eventually be making the rounds around town at various breweries and farmers markets before finding a semi-permanent location on the west side of town.

"Everyone wants it to be really convenient," he said of the need for a food truck. "We'll also get on Uber Eats and DoorDash and all that kind of stuff."

Totes Ice Cream is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Totes Ice Cream opens on Hawthorne Road in Gainesville Florida