Bubba's Sweet Spot, Co-Owned By Blue Wahoos Investor Bubba Watson, Has Vibrant New Look 

Bubba’s Sweet Spot has found its new groove.

The candy and ice cream shop co-owned by world-famous, professional golfer Bubba Watson, a Pensacola resident, reopened Thursday across Palafox Street from the original location.

The store is now positioned next to Carmen’s restaurant and the Bodacious Shops on the corner of Palafox and Main Street. It now offers indoor and outdoor sidewalk seating, along with a brighter, more vibrant feel.

“It’s beautiful in every way,” said Eric Grote, who has been store manager of Bubba’s Sweet Spot since it opened in July 2016. “We have the quartz counter-tops. The work area is right up front when you walk in. The chocolate machines can handle up to 11 pounds, as opposed to three pounds, so production-wise, we can produce a lot more candy.”

“We now can offer eight more flavors of ice cream. It’s just so nice. It’s a special moment for us.”

The location was formerly occupied by an aromatherapy store. Now, customers walk into an array of confectionery smells from the various candy and ice cream items.

Remodeling was completed by Bear Construction and includes white tile paneling behind the work counter area, white lighting fixtures and other improvements.

The signature, walk-in element on the left wall is a mural designed by renown Pensacola artist Joe Hobbs. It features Bubba Watson and a golf leaderboard, along with Blue Wahoos’ mascot, Kazoo, the Blue Angels, the Pensacola Beach Ball tower, and other elements unique to Pensacola.

“Everyone in the arts community knows who Joe Hobbs is,” Grote said. “And with this design we tried to incorporate everything special about Pensacola. He did an amazing job.

“When you walk in, it’s colorful and fun.”

Watson, whose decorated career includes two Masters championships as part of 12 PGA Tour victories, fulfilled a check-list when Bubba’s Sweet Spot opened five years ago. He’s had a hand in the store designs, the candy item choices as well as other operational priorities. He has made visits during the construction process of both stores.

His mother, Molly, helped with day-to-day operations when the original location began serving customers.

The new store is repositioned into an area that Grote believes will provide better access.

“This is definitely a busy, foot traffic side of the street,” he said. “Carmen’s and Bodacious both do outstanding lunches. It draws people down here. So you have lunch and we’re right next door for dessert.

“Even on a rainy day, we now have a covered front that links Carmen’s and Bodacious all together for an outside area.

Grote is a veteran of the cookies and candy business, having managed three other stores prior to taking on Bubba’s Sweet Spot.

“Oh, I’ve learned so much,” he said, laughing. “Hey, everyone loves candy, right? The approach has been one customer, one great experience at a time.

“And I’ve always been listening to what people want. And taking requests for what people wanted. People would say, ‘hey you are missing this or that.’ So then I would put those items in the next order. It has kind just grown from there.”