4 minNews
Bear wanders into Tennessee tea shop during couple's anniversary trip
A bear walked into The Spice & Tea Exchange in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, during a couple's anniversary visit, rummaging through merchandise and jumping on the counter before leaving. The encounter lasted about 15 minutes.
A couple celebrating their seventh anniversary in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, got an unexpected close encounter with wildlife when a bear strolled into a local tea shop and began exploring the merchandise. Victoria Puyol and Joshua Card were visiting The Spice & Tea Exchange on Friday when Card noticed the animal near the entrance and alerted his partner.
Puyol initially did not register what was happening, but when Card and a store clerk repeated themselves, she turned to see the bear standing in the doorway. The couple recalled guidance about backing away from bears, and as they stepped back, the animal ventured deeper into the store. The clerk directed them behind the register, where they had access to an emergency exit.
The bear appeared particularly interested in the shop's inventory, tearing into a sweet-tea blend and investigating tea diffusers as a crowd gathered outside. An employee from a neighboring business sounded an air horn, but the couple said it seemed to have little effect on the animal.
Card began recording as the bear approached the counter. In the video, he can be heard addressing the animal calmly. The bear then turned and jumped onto the counter, prompting Card to step backward. Puyol recalled the moment with a mix of disbelief and humor, noting that her husband seemed to be talking to the bear as if it were a pet.
Card said he initially thought the animal might have been a "show bear" on a leash with a handler nearby, given the populated area. He quickly realized it was a wild bear. A military veteran with experience as a lifeguard, Card said his background in handling emergency situations shaped his reaction, though he described the encounter as unpredictable rather than an emergency.
The bear appeared more curious than aggressive, according to Card. "He didn't really seem threatened," he said. "Even when he jumped up on the counter, I was like, okay, well, I'm going to take a step back." Puyol said she was more shocked than frightened, noting that a wild animal was about eight feet away from her.
Adding to the irony, Puyol said she had told Card before the trip that she hoped to see a bear during their anniversary getaway. "Be careful what you wish for because I wanted to see a bear, not that up close and personal," she said.
The clerk eventually told the couple about another exit through the second floor, but the bear ran out before they needed to use it. Card and the clerk shut the door and waited to make sure it was safe before leaving. Puyol estimated the entire encounter lasted roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
Store employees told the couple the bear appeared to be a repeat visitor and had entered the business earlier in the week. The shop had also posted a photo of a bear earlier that week with a caption noting the animal had come into the store, taken some sugar, and returned for more.
The couple said the encounter made for an anniversary they will never forget. "The trip has been filled with oddities, and so this just kind of fuels that whole experience," Card said.
