At the corner of North Donnelly Street and East 4th Avenue in downtown Mount Dora, smiles are served daily, with a side of ice cream.

Waffles and Cream, a dessert shop inside the Mount Dora Marketplace, is celebrating its third anniversary and a grand re-opening for owners Chris and Kris Jones, who turned personal hardship into community joy.

(Kris “left and Chris “right” recently celebrated the grand reopening of their ice cream shop in Mount Dora.)

“We don’t sell ice cream,” says Chris Jones, co-founder and self-proclaimed “ice cream man” who’s known locally for his ukulele tunes and scooter rides. “We create smiles.”

A former corporate executive in restaurant R&D and global food service purchasing, Chris left behind the stress of big business during the pandemic, when his ethics began clashing with corporate policies. After suffering a stroke during a visit to Michigan in October 2021, he spent nine days in an induced coma, a life-altering event that set him on a new path.

(One this is for sure, you will always find something unique at Waffles and Cream!)

“I woke up and told myself I was going to become the person my friends and family were praying for,” he says.

(Waffles cooked to perfection with powdered sugar and syrup is a must try.)

With support from his wife, Kris, who still works full-time and manages the shop’s marketing and PR, the couple launched Waffles and Cream with a mission to create joy, not just dessert.

“I just told him we would figure it out,” says Kris. “We were lucky enough to take a chance on a dream.”

Located at 100 E. 4th Avenue, Waffles and Cream offers whimsical takes on classic treats, including loaded waffle desserts, hand-crafted ice cream combinations, and a warm welcome from the community-oriented Joneses.

The grand re-opening, comes as the business marks three years in operation. Locals and visitors are invited to stop in and enjoy the sweetness and maybe leave with a smile or two.

“It’s not just about the ice cream,” Chris says. “It’s about creating movie magic with what we have.”

Photo by City of Mount Dora, Nicole Hamel and Waffles and Cream