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Few things in life get me happier than knowing I’m about to go and indulge in as much frozen yogurt, sweets, and chili dogs as I can handle.
Sweet Lics, at 224 N. Woodland Blvd., has been having the community of DeLand licking their way to happiness since it opened Dec. 29, 2015.
Owner Barb Sternett has called DeLand home for six years, and she is currently the resident-and-event coordinator at John Knox Village retirement community in Orange City, as well.
Sternett had a dream to start her own business, which she made come true.
Her husband, Don Liska, a 10-year resident of DeLand who retired from the automobile business, helps manage the feel-good sweets creamery.
“She lets me hang out here,” said Don jokingly.
Barb did much traveling around the United States and Europe, and learned many of her skills and crafts from gelato genius Chef Paolo Personeni.
On a wet and dreary December day, I walked up to the completely renovated and seasonally decorated Sweet Lics shop in Downtown DeLand.
Stamped on the window is their smiling “Sweetie,” a happy yellow face licking its lips, and the logo of their shop, representing what’s to come inside.
A covered outside patio with sorbet-colored tables and chairs gives you the ability to enjoy the view of Woodland Boulevard while enjoying your favorite treat.
As you step inside, it’s as if you’ve been transported into a happy game of Candy Land, with fluorescent pink walls and yellow trim behind the counter, aqua-blue hanging lights showcasing Barb’s homemade ice-cream popsicles and cookies, and a little original rustic brick wall to keep the Downtown vibe.
I took a seat at one of Barb’s tables that she designed in the center of the shop as I looked at the flat-screen display showing my options to choose from.
The wet and dreary day made me select Sweet Lics’ chili and cheese dog, an all-beef Hebrew National Frank topped with a steaming pile of chili and cheese. It was a perfect start to warm up from the cold and wet weather.
The hot dog was protruding from both sides of the bun, and I took a sharklike bite as chili and cheese smothered my face and hands, as they should. I finished the last bite and was a mess while I washed the dog down with a drink I had never tried before.
Sweet Lics serves root-beer floats, but also serves the less commonly known Boston Cooler, an ice-cream float with vanilla ice cream and Vernors Ginger Ale.
Next, I had to develop a plan to create my frozen-yogurt concoction, which is what Sweet Lics specializes in.
Sweet Lics offers frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelati, custard and Italian ice as options with which to fill your self-serve cup. You can choose to put a bottom in your cup, such as a gluten-free brownie and vanilla wafers. Then you choose your flavor of frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelati, etc., in any combination you prefer. Next, you add your toppings, including 36 or more options such as nuts, M&M’s and strawberries, to name a few. Finally, you finish off with dressings such as hot fudge, caramel, and whipped cream.
I created a Reese’s Peanut Butter Explosion, composed of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Pie, Reese’s Pieces, peanut-butter cups, caramel, peanutbutter syrup, nuts, and whipped cream. My filled cup weighed in at a whopping 13 ounces, costing 53 cents per ounce.
Sweet Lics has a private party room for various events, including kids’ birthdays, and it seats up to 30 people.
They offer a “Thirsty Thursday” special of 75 cents off on all smoothies, milkshakes and lattes.
Sweet Lics gives you the option of using your creativity to build whatever sweet concoction you can dream, in a very clean, fun and vibrant environment for the whole family.
For those who want to stay at home and get their fix, Sweet Lics also offers delivery through DeLand Delivery and Grubhub.
