A couple celebrating their anniversary in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, had their getaway interrupted when a black bear entered The Spice & Tea Exchange, investigated the shop's products, and jumped onto the counter. The encounter was captured on video.
Victoria Puyol and Joshua Card were visiting Gatlinburg for their seventh anniversary when they stopped at the shop on Friday. Card first noticed the bear near the entrance. As the couple and a store clerk stepped back, the bear moved further into the store, showing interest in the inventory, including a sweet-tea blend and tea diffusers.
An employee from a neighboring store attempted to deter the bear by sounding an air horn, but it had little apparent effect. Card began filming as the bear approached the counter and then jumped up on it. Card described the animal as curious rather than aggressive, noting it did not appear threatened.
While Card, a military veteran, drew on his experience with emergency situations, he felt the bear's behavior was unpredictable but not an immediate emergency. Puyol stated she was more shocked than frightened by the close proximity of the wild animal. Ironically, Puyol had expressed a desire to see a bear during their trip.
The bear spent an estimated 10 to 15 minutes inside the shop before exiting through the front door. Store employees informed the couple that the bear was a repeat visitor, having entered the business earlier in the week and taken sugar. The shop had previously posted on social media about a bear that had visited the store.
The unexpected encounter added a memorable, albeit unusual, element to the couple's anniversary trip. "The trip has been filled with oddities, and so this just kind of … fuels that whole experience," Card said.