Treadwell's Ice Cream — Restaurant in Peabody

All my reviews are honest and my thoughts are my own.*

What an incredible experience at Treadwell‘s Ice Cream! I prefer to give my business to local shops and support small business so I was excited to find this spot! Unfortunately, my family and I had a very terrible experience at another local ice cream shop- The Cotton Mill Cafe recently and I wish I would have came here first!!

The ice cream, the customer service, the location and the availability of space and parking were fantastic! It’s extremely helpful and great that they have a big sign with their selections posted outside for children and adults to see. I had myself, another adult and a child with me.

I was able to comfortably park my vehicle and get into line with my party quite quickly; it’s nice that their covering to order is really basic but also shelters from the elements too. Super easy to move through the line. A woman with blonde hair assisted us- I think her name may have been Sharon or something with an S but she was wonderful! My child’s order was extremely detailed( he ordered many toppings) and she got every one on his ice cream! She was patient, friendly and even though they do not have military discount, she gave us a senior discount! I thought that was so kind and thoughtful!

The ice cream choices and froyo options are delightful; a huge list of options and very well priced. I would say error on the side of ordering children’s size or small because you’re still getting so much ice cream lol! I was extremely satisfied with my choice- a waffle cone with pistachio. Delicious quality ice cream and a great cone. A lot of ice cream and again, very well priced.

The other adult in my party and my child said their ice cream was also delicious. We enjoyed sitting down next to the ice cream sign and taking pictures. Other families were also enjoying their ice cream.

This ice cream shop is very child friendly, military friendly and family friendly. We will absolutely be returning to Treadwell’s Ice Cream. Thank you so much! 5 out of 5 for three...

Absolutely 5 stars — Treadwell’s is a North Shore institution, and if you’re in the Salem area and haven’t been, you’re seriously missing out.

This place defines old-school ice cream stand charm. It’s got that classic New England vibe—no frills, no gimmicks, just insanely good ice cream, generous portions, and a devoted local following that spans generations. Amidst a sea of trendy dessert spots popping up in Salem and nearby towns, Treadwell’s holds its own and then some. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s quality.

The menu is massive and packed with variety. Whether you're after a perfectly creamy soft serve, a rich hard-serve scoop, a towering sundae, a frappe so thick the straw barely works, or a banana split that could easily feed two (but don’t kid yourself—you’ll finish it), they deliver every time. Their flavors are consistently bold and satisfying, and the texture of their ice cream is just right—smooth, dense, and never icy or overly sugary.

The staff are fast and friendly, even when the lines are out to the parking lot (which happens often on warm nights). The wait’s never too bad, and it’s worth it every single time. They also keep things moving efficiently without ever making you feel rushed—something rare in high-traffic seasonal spots.

Treadwell’s also gets huge points for its atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where teens hang out after school, families gather after dinner, and locals keep coming back year after year. There’s outdoor seating, the occasional dog hanging out by the benches, and a community energy that feels like summer in Massachusetts distilled into a single location.

With so much competition in and around Salem—from artisan creameries to Instagram-bait dessert cafes—Treadwell’s could easily get overlooked by out-of-towners. But ask any local, and they’ll tell you: You gotta go to Treadwell’s. No trip to the area is...

I am not very pleased with this restaurant. My mom and I came here at a decent hour (I think it was around 6) and the store was not very busy. We have never been here before and there is a very large list of flavours of icecream to choose from. The actual icecream was not on display (similar to a bakery displaying their cakes) like how a large majority of icecream parlors have. I wanted to sample some of the flavours to decide which one to get. I asked the lady behind the counter if I could sample a flavour and the 'samples' were very large. I asked if I could try some other flavours that I was contemplating and the girl at the counter told me that they only do samples when they aren't busy. There was nobody behind me. I was very displeased with the attitude that I was given especially considering that we (my mom and I) had already gotten something from this shop. My mom got a lemon Italian Ice and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wound up getting a chocolate fozen yogurt. Despite the attitude and snippy-ness of the girl at the counter, we were pretty pleased. The icecream and yogurt were very tasty and had amazing portions. Don't expect to get samples...