EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (WJAR) — A 97-year-old man with a love for ice cream, and a particular creamery, has taken the internet by storm gaining more than 20 million views on videos posted of him on TikTok.
This year, Kim Leandre purchased Hill-Top Creamery off of Post Road in East Greenwich,
“My family originally started Hill-Top in 1983 and we owned it from 83′ to 2000. It sold over two times, and then I just repurchased it actually this year,” said Leandre. “I really had missed it. I was working for 25 years clinically in mental health and trauma and I was ready for something much more light hearted and went back to my roots.”
Leandre said this past summer, she hired about 13 people to help her keep up with business, many of whom are local students.
It was a few months ago when her friend brought her grandfather in for some ice cream.
Jim Gallagher, also known as Papa Jim originally of East Providence, lives in an assisted living facility in Warwick.
He was ecstatic to take the trip to the creamery and eat ice cream and he quickly hit it off with staff there.
“And I said I’d like to come back,” said Gallagher. “This place grows on you. I really like it, my granddaughter takes me here on Sundays. I was young once, now I’m young at heart.”
Gallagher began making the trips for a treat, and eventually earned himself a spot on the team.
During his trips to the ice cream shop, he said he would pitch in when needed.
“When I come here and they’re busy, I get behind the counter and help out. Pick up a few dishes and wash a few and sweep the floor. I’m strictly a partisan,” he said. “I do my best but I can’t keep up with the young people. They’re fast, they’re fast naturally.”
Gallagher, who worked as a truck driver for a majority of his life, said pitching in to help the younger folks made his day.
“They pay me in ice cream because I’m not really good at being in the kitchen,” he said. “I meet a lot of nice young ladies. That’s why I like to come here.”
Gallagher has a personality that’s unmatched.
He’s witty and sharp, making comments to customers, reeling everyone in.
“He’s feisty. He’s still full of life and he’s fun and he’s just fun to have around,” said Leandre. “He likes to come to the ice cream shop to hang out and every now and then he’ll promote a product for us. Talk to people and shake hands. You never know you might see him on the back of a Harley. He’s hilarious.”
A while back, Gallagher was posted on the creamery’s Tiktok page.
From there, videos that were made of him or with him, began gaining a lot of attention.
“We started making TikTok’s just for fun when it was slower one day and then a few of our videos took off with millions of views and we’ve been just having fun with it ever since,” said Leandre. “We’re at almost 20 million, 20 million views of Papa Jim.”
Gallagher can be seen in videos promoting the newest menu item, talking about doing “the best he can.” riding motorcycles, and updating followers on his life.
In one video, he can be seen with his 96-year-old girlfriend on a bench eating ice cream, where he explains he loves to take all of his dates to the creamery.
“He gets noticed everywhere he loves it. He’s in his glory,” said Leandre.“I had a couple that came here today from Ohio that only came here to meet Papa Jim. People love Papa Jim, and he’s experienced, he’s wise, he’s 97, of course you’re going to listen to papa Jim if he says it’s good it’s good.”
Gallagher, who doesn’t fully understand social media and Tiktok, said since becoming a social media star, he has been recognized on several occasions.
He likes to keep people laughing and said he appreciates his younger “co-workers” and the support he’s received.
“I’m glad to be on video. I can say what I want to get my point across to a lot of people,” said Gallagher. “I’d like to add that I’m being interviewed by a very attractive young lady with blonde hair and this is really great.”
“You only live one time and with our videos and Papa Jim, we’re just trying to enrich everyone’s lives, maybe it’ll be a little bit of sweetness in peoples day, just a little bit of joy in people’s afternoon,” added Leandre.
Hill-Top Creamery will close for the season next weekend.
Staff is hopeful to remain in contact with Gallagher and to have him back in the spring.
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