Clearwater’s dessert scene is about to get a little flashier. Crispy Cones, the rotisserie-grilled pastry cone and soft-serve chain that scored a Shark Tank investment, is on its way to Countryside Center, where it will land near First Watch and Five Below. Co-owners Todd and Tricia Basler plan to bring the brand’s rotating specialty cones and made-to-order soft serve to Pinellas County, giving locals a new excuse to linger in the shopping center a bit longer.
According to Business Debut, the Baslers are targeting a March 27 opening, pending final construction. The outlet notes the couple purchased an existing Orlando Crispy Cones in July 2025 and plan to keep the Clearwater shop humming seven days a week, with 18 indoor seats and 16 outdoor seats. Business Debut also reports the location will offer experience boxes, catering services, and an app ordering option so customers can customize cones and skip the line.
What The Countryside Shop Will Serve
As described by Crispy Cones, the dough is hand rolled, grilled rotisserie-style, then coated in cinnamon sugar or specialty powders. From there it gets lined with spreads such as Nutella or peanut butter and finished with gourmet soft-serve and assorted toppings. The brand’s homepage also spotlights a weekly specialty cone and soft-serve flavor, with this week’s combo featuring powdered sugar and cake batter, a preview of the rotating menu and frequent new offerings Clearwater customers can expect.
Shark Tank Backing And Growth
As reported by CNBC, founder Jeremy Carlson and his partner accepted a deal from Barbara Corcoran on Shark Tank in 2023, with Corcoran investing $200,000 for a stake in the company. That national TV moment helped Crispy Cones accelerate franchising and expand into new markets across multiple states, setting the stage for the Clearwater location.
Owners, Family And Local Plans
Business Debut notes that the Baslers relocated from St. Louis County, Missouri, to Florida to pursue the Crispy Cones venture, saying they wanted a family business that could teach their kids about entrepreneurship. The outlet adds that family members, including Blake Basler, are expected to work at the Clearwater shop this summer, keeping the operation firmly in the family.
Ordering, App And Next Steps
The brand’s locations page currently lists Clearwater as “Coming Soon,” and Crispy Cones offers an app that lets customers customize and prepay orders for pickup or delivery. The Baslers say a formal grand-opening date will be announced once construction is complete and permits are finalized. Until then, would-be regulars can track progress through the brand’s site and the Baslers’ local updates as the Shark Tank-backed concept gets ready to fire up its rotisserie grills in Countryside Center.
