There are places you stumble into and places you seek out, and then there is Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream on the Denton Square — a place that somehow manages to be both. Tucked right along West Hickory Street just a short stroll from the historic courthouse, this beloved creamery has been churning out hand-dipped scoops and thick, dreamy malts since 1990, and the moment you push open that door, you understand immediately why locals are so fiercely loyal to it.
The interior is unabashedly nostalgic. Think black-and-white checkerboard floors, a long marble-topped soda counter lined with spinning stools, and the kind of warm, unhurried atmosphere that makes you want to linger long after your cup is empty. It feels like a living piece of mid-century Americana, and that is entirely intentional. Owner Beth Marie Heller built this place as a tribute to the old-fashioned soda fountains she grew up loving, and every detail — from the vintage signage to the handwritten flavor boards — reflects that devotion.
Now, let’s talk about the ice cream itself, because that is really why you are going to make the drive. Beth Marie’s makes their ice cream in-house, rotating through dozens of flavors that range from the comfortingly familiar (Dutch chocolate, fresh strawberry, pure vanilla bean) to the genuinely surprising. On any given visit you might find a salted caramel with a proper depth of flavor, a Mexican chocolate spiked with cinnamon and a quiet heat, or a seasonal fruit sorbet so bright it tastes like the fruit itself decided to become a dessert. The rotation keeps regulars guessing and gives first-timers an excellent excuse to try two scoops instead of one.
But do not overlook the fountain drinks. The hand-crafted sodas here — made with real syrups mixed to order over carbonated water — are legitimately worth the trip on their own. The old-fashioned cream soda is silky and lightly sweet without being cloying, and the egg creams have developed something of a cult following among regulars who know to ask for them. If you are in the mood for something more substantial, the milkshakes and malts are blended thick enough that you will absolutely be reaching for a spoon before you get to the bottom of the glass.
Beth Marie’s sits in the heart of what makes the Denton Square so worth exploring. Before or after your scoop, you are steps away from independent boutiques, record shops, and some of the city’s most character-filled streets. But honestly, once you settle onto one of those counter stools with a double scoop of something wonderful, the rest of the afternoon has a way of sorting itself out without much effort on your part.
The shop draws an admirably diverse crowd — UNT students on study breaks, families with sticky-fingered kids, older couples who have been coming here for decades, and out-of-towners who were tipped off by someone who clearly cares about them. That mix of people, all gathered around ice cream on a warm Texas afternoon, is its own kind of magic.
Beth Marie’s is open seven days a week, with extended hours on weekends, and parking near the Square is generally manageable if you arrive before the evening rush. Prices are refreshingly reasonable for the quality you are getting, and the staff tends to be genuinely enthusiastic about helping you choose — not in a pushy way, but in the way of someone who actually loves what they are serving.
If you have not made a dedicated trip to Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream yet, consider this your standing invitation. Denton has plenty of things worth traveling for, and this creamy, cheerful corner of the Square is near the top of the list.
