BAY MINETTE — A new ice cream shop has recently opened its doors in the North Baldwin community.

Located at 708 D’Olive St., WaterTower Creamery is owned by Michael Carter and Robert Karcz, a Bay Minette couple who previously owned and operated the American Pride Petroleum gas station before selling in 2024. After taking a hiatus and traveling internationally, an opportunity arose for them to do something new.

Having opened on Aug. 1, Carter said it’s been a good experience after a couple of weeks into the business.

“I’m just glad to be back in Baldwin County and being back in Bay Minette doing something I love, like being with people,” Carter said.

The name is an homage to the concrete water tower that loomed over Bay Minette, which was originally built in 1915 and was one of only two such structures built in the United States. The structure was a favorite sight of Carter when he drove to American Pride Petroleum. He was upset when it was torn down to make way for upgrades at the local correctional center.

When he and Karcz were driving to try to sign the contract for their ice cream supplier, Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream, Carter already had a name for the establishment in mind.

“I told (Karcz) if we get this, I want to name it WaterTower Creamery because I just love the name. I love the water tower,” Carter said. “To me, that just always felt like home. That always felt like Bay Minette.”

The shop serves around 32 different flavors of ice cream, along with four flavors of sorbet, some of which include Biscoff, banana pudding, cookie monster, birthday cake, cotton candy and bubble gum. They also serve milkshakes and ice cream nachos, where crushed pieces of waffle cones are used to dip into two scoops of ice cream.

WaterTower Creamery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon. to 6 p.m. Carter said they will try extending hours on select Fridays during home football games for Baldwin County High School.