Before Swanky Scoops became one of Downtown Toledo’s newest destinations for handcrafted, hand-dipped ice cream, owner Alissa Vieira was making small batches in her garage.
Vieira spent years working in restaurants and hospitality, admiring the business owners she worked with. Eventually, she realized the only thing separating her from them was taking the leap herself.
“The only difference between the restaurant owners I worked for and me was that they were already doing it,” Vieira said.
That realization came shortly after becoming a mom.
“I didn’t want to go back to work and put all my time and energy into working for someone else while being away from my family,” she said.
Ice cream had always been Vieira’s creative outlet. She loved experimenting with flavors and making desserts for family and friends because, as she put it, “Ice cream makes people really happy.”
She purchased commercial ice cream equipment in early 2020 with plans to launch her business that summer. When the COVID-19 pandemic changed those plans, Vieira installed a commercial electrical outlet in her garage and spent months perfecting recipes while learning everything she could about running a business.
Her first opportunity to sell those recipes came thanks to Original Sub Shop owner Maureen Brogan, who invited Vieira to make and sell her handcrafted ice cream from the restaurant.
The experience gave her something every entrepreneur hopes for: honest feedback from real customers.
From there, Swanky Scoops continued growing through farmers markets, a mobile ice cream cart, catering events and pop-up shops before opening its first permanent storefront at 144 S. Huron St. in Downtown Toledo’s Warehouse District.
Building a dream
The shop’s memorable name may spark curiosity, as it certainly did for me.
To Vieira, “swanky” means something fancy, elevated and a little luxurious without taking itself too seriously. She intentionally wanted customers to know they were coming for hand-dipped scoops, not soft serve, and that they could expect flavors well beyond the standard lineup found at most ice cream shops.
That same philosophy carries throughout the entire experience.
Instead of asking customers what flavor they want, Vieira starts with a different question.
“Are you feeling classic or adventurous? Are you feeling light and fruity or rich and sweet?”
The conversation helps guide guests toward trying something they may never have ordered otherwise.
“It’s so much fun to try something new and surprise yourself with a new favorite flavor,” Vieira said.
Swanky Scoops specializes in handcrafted, hand-dipped French-style custard ice cream made from scratch in small batches. Vieira said the team is constantly making fresh batches, rotating flavors throughout the year and refining recipes whenever they find ways to make them even better.
Because everything is made in small batches, the menu changes regularly. A favorite flavor one week may be replaced by something completely different the next, giving customers a reason to come back and discover something new.
Guests can choose from a flight of three mini scoops, a 4-ounce single scoop or an 8-ounce double scoop. Every order is served in a cup, with the option to add one of the shop’s homemade waffle cones, baked fresh throughout the day. Swanky Scoops also offers affogatos and rotating seasonal desserts.
Worth the visit
When Vieira turned those same questions on me, I told her I was looking for a mix of adventurous flavors. She smiled and immediately started recommending the scoops she thought best represented Swanky Scoops.
While she was walking me through the display case, one flavor immediately caught my eye: Browned Butter Brickle.
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As someone who’s always been a fan of butter pecan, I couldn’t pass it up.
It ended up being my favorite flavor of the afternoon. The rich browned butter paired perfectly with crunchy pieces of toffee, creating a scoop that reminded me of butter pecan while still feeling completely unique. If I had to recommend just one flavor to someone making their first visit, this would be it.
Vieira also recommended Oatmeal Creme Pie, a brown sugar cinnamon ice cream mixed with chunks of oatmeal creme pie cookies.
“It’s just like a warm hug,” Vieira said. “Like the Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. It tasted exactly like an Oatmeal Creme Pie, with generous chunks of cookie mixed throughout every bite.
For something a little lighter, Vieira suggested the shop’s Passion Fruit ice cream, describing it as “light and bright and tropical” with “a little bit of floral” flavor and “some citrusy tart tanginess.”
She was right. It tasted like biting into a fresh passion fruit, delivering a bright, refreshing flavor that balanced the richer options on the menu.
We each ordered the 4-ounce single scoop, and it was more than enough to satisfy our sweet tooth. If you’re especially hungry or can’t decide between two flavors, the 8-ounce double scoop is a great option.
Vieira isn’t just hoping people stop in for a scoop. She hopes they make Swanky Scoops part of their family’s traditions and a Toledo staple.
Whether it’s celebrating a birthday, introducing friends from out of town to a favorite local spot or treating the kids after a trip to the Toledo Farmers’ Market, she wants the shop to become a destination people think of for life’s little moments.
As Vieira put it, “Ice cream makes people really happy. I get to be a part of that.”
