Real Fruit Ice Cream Shop, Sweet Scoops, Joins the Growing Number of Businesses Downtown

Sweet Scoops, located at 107 W, Dignowity is serving up Real Fruit Ice Cream Thursday-Sunday. Artwork done by local artist Marco Mares.

The newest addition to the growing number of stores and businesses revitalizing downtown Del Rio and Main Street, is Sweet Scoops, a new ice cream shop and family - friendly beer garden crafting customized cups or cones of ice cream flavored with real fruit. 

Located at 107 W. Dignowity St., Sweet Scoops is a labor of love by owners Rick and Yulissa Guajardo. After years of teaching at Del Rio High School and owning ice cream trucks of his own, Guajardo told us that he and his wife were inspired by the beer gardens in Austin. “We saw the beer gardens in Austin and wanted to bring something like that to Del Rio but with ice cream,” Guajardo said. “We have the music and picnic tables out front and even though we sell beer, it’s still a family - friendly place for people to bring their kids and enjoy some ice cream.” 

On a trip to the coast, they visited an ice cream and hawaiian shaved ice spot with a unique ice cream machine imported from New Zealand that caught their attention. The machine makes each serving of ice cream one at a time, giving customers the opportunity to customize their scoops, and is efficient, easy to use, and easy to clean.

After a second trip, the Guajardos decided to purchase one of their own and began formulating their real - fruit flavored ice cream recipes. “What makes our ice cream different from other ice cream places is that it’s mixed with real fruit, so you won’t see flavors like chocolate or cookies and cream,” Yulissa Guajardo shared. “It might not be totally healthy but it’s a good way for parents to get their kids to eat fruit.” She also shared that they are planning to have fruit flavors of the month depending on what fruit is available and in season throughout the year.

Rick Guajardo makes a custom order while demonstrating the ease and efficiency of their ice cream machine.

Sweet Scoops finally opened its doors on December 6, 2024 with a ribbon cutting ceremony where they offered up their ice cream to Christmas parade goers downtown. “The process of ordering is really simple, you come up to our menu board and pick out either a cup, waffle cone, or kids cone, you choose your base, vanilla or coconut ice cream, then your fruit flavors, (currently they are offering strawberry, mixed berry, blueberry, pineapple, mango, raspberry, and cherry), then your toppings (sprinkles, coconut flakes, chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, la lechera),” Guajardo shared. 

Guajardo told us that they also plan to do more events and partner with local food trucks and nearby shops. “Now that we sell beer, we plan to do first friday art walks and get some food trucks down here,” Guajardo began. “We always tell people we’re right across from La Bohemia and some people still don’t know that they’re here so we’d like to have events that help us both out and let people know who we are.” 

They are open and serving their real fruit ice cream Thursday - Friday from 5-9pm and Saturday - Sunday from 3-7pm. 

Be sure to stop by and pay them a visit while exploring the Shops of Main!