Doc’s Shake Shoppe

Doc’s Shake Shoppe is a hidden gem in Parma, just south of Pleasant Valley on the East side of State road — look for the red awnings behind the yellow house. You’ll be glad you did.
Doc’s still makes all the old fashioned favorites — one way that I test whether I will return to an ice cream shop is by ordering a chocolate ice cream soda. If I get a «what’s that» or worse, a senseless waste of concocted ingredients, I know. And that happens more than half of the time, and almost always if a HS kid on their first job takes my order. Doc’s got it right, and fast, the first time I went there and I’ve been coming back ever since.
This time, I ordered a chocolate malt and it was heaven. Also among our orders was the Krazy Kookie Dough ice cream, which was bright yellow with red chunks of cookie dough — the kids loved it and the colors were really off the wall and fun. A simple rootbeer float rounded out the order and we paid just under $ 12 for the three orders.
This is a family owned business and it’s worth a stop for ice cream, shakes, sundaes, floats, or whatever you like, and even though the menu board says «cash only», there is a chance that the person will have a card reader for their cell phone.

I grew up in Parma living just down the street from this ice cream shop and spent many summer days sneaking quarters out of my parents’ room so I could satisfy my sweet tooth. I am not in Parma anymore, but I always make it a point to pick up a cone or a cup for myself if I’m ever in the area. They have a huge menu of all types of frozen goodness in a variety of flavors. Sundaes, flurries (akin to DQ’s blizzards), milkshakes, hard ice cream, slushies, freezes (slushies mixed with soft serve vanilla… AMAZING), and other treats.
My personal favorite is the «Gold Brick» flurry, which is soft serve vanilla mixed with toffee bits and other crunchy candy bits. Believe me when I say that it is heaven with every spoonful. I would also recommend their freezes, ordered UNMIXED. It’s a wonderful fruit and cream combo. Did I mention that they carry Blue Moon and Superman ice cream flavors, which are getting harder and harder find around these parts?
The shop is family owned. It used to be stationed in the little building up front, but they moved a few years ago to the bigger and better building behind it. They do employ teens in what appears to be their first job ever, so have patience with them. If you’re lucky enough to get the guy that runs the place, the guy that’s hooked me up since I was a kid, you will get an extremely generous portion and a perfect blend of ingredients.
I’m not here to compare it to other ice cream shops. All I know is that I grew up with it, so I know it, and I love it.