Sweet Slade's — Restaurant in Show Low

I stumbled into Sweet Slade’s in Pinetop, Arizona, on a rainy day, just looking to satisfy my sweet tooth. I had no idea that what I was about to experience would rival any Hollywood fantasy.

Now, I’ve been to ice cream shops before—plenty of them. But Sweet Slade’s? This place? It’s not just an ice cream shop. It’s a portal to another dimension, where the ice cream tastes so good, you swear someone sold their soul to the devil himself to make it. And that someone? Well, that would be Samantha.

You see, there’s usually a girl named Jenna who serves up the magic at Sweet Slade’s, and I adore her. But on this particular day, Jenna wasn’t there. Standing in her place was a vision—a blonde angel (with an accent that could charm the very heavens) who looked like she might have stepped straight out of a bewitching fairy tale. Samantha was her name, and let me tell you, when she handed me that cone, I could feel the mystical energy vibrating through the air. Now, let’s just say Samantha’s ice cream wasn’t just any old ice cream. No, this was ice cream that made you wonder if she’d traded her soul to the dark arts to craft the perfect scoop. I’m not exaggerating. One bite of that homemade vanilla bean, and I swear I could hear angels singing. Every swirl of that homemade waffle cone? It was like tasting pure joy, with a sprinkle of mystery, as if she’d summoned the most heavenly flavors from the farthest reaches of the universe. As I sat there, contemplating whether I’d entered some kind of dream—or magic spell—I glanced over and saw the kids playing in Tiny Town, where they were dressed up as firefighters, hairdressers, and bistro owners. Honestly, who wouldn’twant to pretend to be a hairdresser in a magical little town after tasting an ice cream cone that good? At that point, I was ready to join them, throw on a fireman’s hat, and live my best life in the tiny pretend world—after I finished my second scoop, of course.

But as if all this wasn’t enough, I noticed something even wilder. There was a whole crew of people lined up at the axe-throwing lanes. Yes, you heard me right. Axe-throwing. Seven lanes, to be exact, where you could chuck axes with the precision of a Viking warrior—or, in my case, with the finesse of someone who had just consumed a gallon of the most amazing ice cream on earth. I’ll admit, I might not have been the next axe-throwing champion, but I definitely felt invincible after that scoop of mint chip. And, of course, no day at Sweet Slade’s would be complete without a game of chess in the game room. I challenged the legendary owner himself—thinking my strategic genius could finally shine through. I was wrong. So wrong. The owner made quick work of me in just a few moves, leaving me with only one option: stick to Tic-Tac-Toe in the future. But here’s the real kicker: None of this would exist if it weren’t for the vision and generosity of Slade Roofing. If it weren’t for them, Sweet Slade’s would still be a pipe dream, somewhere in the "What if?" column of the universe. They didn’t just build the roof over our heads—they built a place where ice cream, axe-throwing, Tiny Town, and board games all come together to create pure magic. Slade Roofing is the unsung hero of this dream, and we owe them everything. So, if you’re ever in Pinetop on a rainy day, don’t you dare just stay inside, wishing you had something to do. Get yourself to Sweet Slade’s, and experience the magic that is Samantha’s otherworldly ice cream. And if you’re lucky, you might just walk out feeling like you’ve stepped into a dream—or perhaps, a carefully crafted spell that will make you crave their ice cream for the rest...

A Sweet Slice of Yesteryear at Sweet Slade’s Step right up, dear reader, and allow me to regale you with a tale of sugar, cream, and simpler times — tucked just off Main Street lies a little gem known as Sweet Slade’s Ice Cream, a true haven of old-fashioned delight. From the moment one crosses the threshold, the air is filled with the merry clink of soda spoons and the warm, buttery scent of house-made waffle cones. The décor is a charming tableau of yore: wood floors, spinning stools at a polished marble counter, and old timey signs extolling the joys of ice and cream. One might half expect to see a newsboy hollering headlines from the corner or a barbershop quartet tuning up in the corner booth. But let us turn our attentions to the main event: the ice cream. Oh, the ice cream! Churned fresh daily with the kind of care your grandmother would approve of, each flavor sings with authenticity. The chocolate is rich enough to make a banker blush, while the Strawberry carries the tang and sweetness of a summer’s day spent on the porch swing. For the daring, there's the lemon cheesecake, a rare treat not seen since the days of penny candies and Sunday socials. The young folks behind the counter, clad in crisp aprons and paper hats, serve with a cheer that’d melt even the iciest of dispositions. Whether you’re hankering for a double scoop, a fresh made shake, or a good ol’ root beer float, you’ll be treated like kin. Sweet Slade’s isn’t just a place for ice cream — it’s a time machine dipped in chocolate and drizzled with nostalgia. A place where generations meet over sundaes and sweet memories are made by the spoonful. And let us not forget the fine folks behind the counter — Dean, Cressa, and Jenna, true paragons of parlor hospitality! With smiles as bright as a summer’s day and the swiftness of soda jerks from a golden age, they served up scoops with style and grace. Be it a double malted or a towering sundae, they handled each order with care, cheer, and a wink that made you feel right at home. A finer trio of servers you’d be hard-pressed to find this side of...

If you take a mouse to Sweet Slade’s in Pinetop, he’ll probably start by smelling the warm, sweet scent of homemade ice cream. He’ll want to try some—of course. Once he takes a bite, he’ll ask for a homemade cone to go with it. After all, how could you resist such a perfect combo? Now, with a scoop of creamy vanilla in one hand and a crunchy cone in the other, he’ll notice the lanes of ax-throwing. He’ll get excited and want to try it out. But, he’ll need some practice first. So, he’ll throw a few axes, then give a high-five to whoever’s nearby, proud of his new skill. But after all that fun, he’ll want to wind down. And that’s when he’ll find the Free Board Game Room. He’ll pick a game, sit down, and start playing—before realizing there’s a whole Kidstown to explore! He’ll dress up as a firefighter, then a police officer, then a mailman—every role is too fun to miss. He’ll be delivering pretend letters, saving the day, and baking cupcakes all in the same afternoon. He might even stop at the hair salon to get a stylish new look (because why not?). Maybe he’ll grab a loaf of pretend bread from the grocery store, or manage the bistro for a little while. With so many choices, he’ll get lost in the fun for hours. By the time he’s had his fill of ice cream, axes, games, and dress-up, he’ll be ready to relax and maybe even order some more ice cream. Because when you’ve been to Sweet Slade’s, it’s hard to leave without one more scoop. So, if you take a mouse to Sweet Slade’s, he’ll leave happy, full, and ready to come back again. And...