The Peru Gazette

Rachel Calkin Covey

Sweet Treats Photo

Sweet Treats Photo

Sweet Treats Photo

By John T Ryan

Peru, NY, July 1, 2025. When spring’s first warm day arrives, there’s one place in Peru where you’re virtually guaranteed to find a large crowd – Sweet Treats Ice Cream. Since opening in the early 1980s, the shop has been a local and regional favorite. On April 24, its local ownership tradition continued when Rachel Calkins Covey welcomed customers for the first time. Rachel commented, “I started coming here when Pope’s operated it. It’s been a part of my life, and I enjoy trying new things. Over the years, I had thought about owning a bakery, but as a real estate agent, buying an ice cream shop wasn’t on my radar. However, after giving it some thought, I decided to do it,  so here I am.” Since a previous owner still holds the name Sweet Treat, the shop is now called Sweet Treats.

Sweet Treats is an appropriate name. The shop’s list of offerings seems endless. There’s hard and soft ice cream, sorbets, as well as non-dairy and vegan options, plus weekly specials. Oatmilk ice creams called Super Berry ACAI and Classic Cookie are non-dairy favorites. Popular dairy flavors include pistachio, maple (with local maple syrup), black raspberry, vanilla, Superman, and cotton candy. Customers can choose from more than 30 hard ice cream flavors. Suppliers include Hershey’s, Giffords, Hood, and Dole. Warning, the hard ice creams are very rich. Gifford’s is 14% butterfat, Hershey’s is 12%, Hershey’s Premium Gold is 18%. Rachel says, “We’re always coming up with new concoctions. People love things like our waffle cones with a cotton candy crunch coating.”

What’s been her biggest surprise? Rachel said, “The amount of support I’ve received, many people have reached out. There’s been much love and good wishes.”  Finding employees hasn’t been a problem. Seven or eight of Tim and Jeanne Arnold’s employees stayed, and Rachel hired four, with forty applications on file. The staff consists of students from several area schools, plus two school teachers.

Rachel is up on the latest technology. You can find her website at https://www.sweettreatsperu.com. One of its pages highlights the shop’s 40+ year history. The fun Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/SweetTreatsIceCream. Beginning today, July 1, the shop’s summer hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.