Mickey’s Dairy Twist has new owners, same classic ice cream

SALINE, MI — Many Saline residents have come to know and love Mickey’s Dairy Twist and its homemade ice cream.

The iconic Saline ice cream shop has been a customer favorite for years which is why many were disheartened to learn the business closed after its location was sold to make room for the city’s first marijuana dispensary.

But one nearby business owner, Armando Pacheco DelaCruz, decided to keep the ice cream shop’s legacy alive.

The new Mickey’s owner has been operating the business at its new location, 703 W. Michigan Ave., since September 2022. The ice cream shop’s former location was at 751 W. Michigan Ave.

Customers can find the same recipes, equipment, tables, chairs and even the shop’s original awning. Pacheco DelaCruz said he wants to keep everything as similar to Mickey’s original operations as possible.

Read more: Saline’s well-known ice cream shop, Mickey’s Dairy Twist, has plans to return

Mickey’s operates right next to Pacheco DelaCruz’s other businesses — Toarmina’s Pizza and Paradise Mexican Restaurant.

Pacheco DelaCruz said his relationship with the ice cream shop’s original owners, Pete and Laurie Toarmina, has helped him understand how to stay true to Mickey’s.

The Toarmina couple originally opened Saline’s Mickey’s Dairy Twist in 1994 before selling the location to a different owner around 2014. The ice cream shop was a part of a family-owned business with other locations that are still open in Westland and South Lyon.

The ice cream shop has a long list for customers to choose from including soft serve and homemade ice creams, sundaes, flurries, shakes, frozen yogurts and slushies. Customers can also purchase any flavor of ice cream they want in quarts or pints.

Homemade ice cream flavors include classics like chocolate and vanilla, but there are also other options like honey cinnamon pecan, butter pecan, cappuccino crunch, cherry amaretto, pistachio, chocolate peanut butter and even a rotating flavor of the week.

Saray Pacheco, Pacheco DelaCruz’s daughter, said the only thing that may be new to customers is some of the shop’s ice cream flavors.

For instance, Pacheco said Mickey’s U of yuMMM made with vanilla ice cream, cookie dough, brownies, hot fudge and peanut butter is a new, popular addition that actually came as a suggestion from the Toarmina family.

Along with ice cream, Pacheco said the business is working to bring other menu items like burgers, chicken strips, chili dogs and fries.

Overall, Pacheco DelaCruz previously told MLive his goal is to make people happy with his new business and to serve customers the homemade ice cream they love. The new owner said he is excited to see what is next for the shop now that summer is approaching.

“(My father) is very happy to keep (Mickey’s Dairy Twist) alive and we’re glad we’re still here and we hope the community continues to come to Mickey’s,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco DelaCruz said the ice cream shop is currently open 3 to 9 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every other day of the week.

Find the ice cream shop on social media or by phone at 734-429-4450.

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