Our Story – Sweet Shack
Sweet Shack opened for business on July 17th, 2020 as a sweet dream for a local family, who owns & operates this wonderful ice cream and frozen yogurt shop. Things got a little tastier at the Manklin Creek Shopping Center in Ocean Pines, Maryland as they launched to a reception that was much like the delights Sweet Shack serves, beyond expectations!
Michelle Dell’Aquila-Reed and her family received positive feedback almost immediately! Nothing makes it a sweeter day than satisfied customers!
Michelle, her husband, Matt Reed, their daughter, Madeline & 3 sons, Matthew, Jr., Michael and Max operate the Sweet Shack together as a family. They serve an ever-changing variety of soft serve and hand-dipped ice creams, with unique flavors emerging constantly. They also have other delectable frozen delights.
Michelle relocated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland from New York in 2010. She previously worked managing resort restaurants and during this time was dealt a life-altering blow as she was diagnosed with stage four cancer. “I’m living through my own thing,” is the Sweet Shack owner’s response.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the family decided to actualize a long-held dream with the new business venture. They loved the location in the Manklin Creek Shopping Center, so they went for it when the location became available for rent. Living out a childhood dream, Michelle says the goal is to leave Sweet Shack customers savoring quality soft serve and hand-dipped ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, gelato and Italian ice. Sweet Shack does 24 flavors of soft serve and frozen yogurt. They’re all made with essential oils.
Sweet Shack is a realization of a youthful fascination with a comparable operation in the Catskills. Growing up Michelle’s parents had a summer home in Pennsylvania. There was a little ice cream spot in the middle of nowhere that had 24 flavors. The warm weather visits to the ice cream merchant left an indelible impression. It was fascinating the way they made them and so it became the inspiration for Sweet Shack here in Ocean Pines, Maryland.
After all, Sweet Shack is located minutes from the beach and 24 flavors seemed like the way to go! Higher quality ingredients are also the focus of Sweet Shack’s soft serve production. Expectations are for frozen cakes and more! Keep an eye on social media – Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. We invite you to visit us at 11312 Manklin Creek Road, in Ocean Pines, MD 21811. Enjoy a little sweetness in your day at the Sweet Shack!