Two things that Phoenix needs more of (besides shade of course) are shoe shines and ice cream. Many Phoenicians walk around with scuffed shoes, and Sky Harbor airport hasn’t had a shine concession for years. As for ice cream, with hot weather only getting hotter, a frozen treat should typically be a stone’s throw away and not require a special trip. In downtown Phoenix, those two disparate businesses have come together at Sweet Crimes, a candy and ice cream shop operated by the same folks behind the longstanding Andy’s shoe shine and repair shop.
Sweet Crimes occupies a tiny spot in the heart of downtown Phoenix on Adams Street, halfway between the Downtown Phoenix Hub and Central Station, making it accessible via both the A and B lines. Bike racks are found embedded in nearby parking racks or around the corner by the Hyatt Place hotel on Second Avenue. The shop is so tiny that just a few people can stand inside, and the only seating is a small table and some chairs on the sidewalk between the ice cream store and Andy’s shoe shine shop, the parent business which is located right next door.
This shop sells Thrifty ice cream, a favorite scooped from tubs in water and ice stores in strip malls throughout the city, but Sweet Crimes introduces the product in a more urban context. Available flavors are displayed on a sandwich board on the sidewalk outside the shop, and a menu lists the formats available (cup, cone, or ice cream sandwich) in terms of their “fines,” or prices. Thrift would not be considered artisanal, but it is dependable. Chocolate Malt Krunch and strawberry cheesecake are among the strongest choices, along with basics like butter pecan.
There are usually a dozen flavors listed, along with a non-dairy ice cream alternative like mango ice. The frozen desserts can be served in foam cups or various types of cones, an option that allows one-handed enjoyment while walking down the streets of Downtown. The slightly fancier options are a cookie sundae with a scoop of ice cream on top of a soft cookie, or a Cookie Monster, a sandwich with the ice cream placed between two cookies. Although the menu lists both chocolate chip and snickerdoodle, only the former has been available during recent visits.
Assuming chocolate chip remains the default cookie, it pairs well with any of the flavors previously mentioned, along with black cherry with bits of fruit in its creamy base. Of course, Thrifty is a value brand, so that means some compromises. The mint chip, for example, is tinted green, but paradoxically that often indicates less flavor than more. It’s serviceable, but not at the level of intensity found at local shops like Sweet Republic or even the store-bought product from Trader Joe’s. Keeping it simple here is the best way to enjoy a quick treat at Sweet Crimes.
In addition to ice cream, the shop sells popular brands of candy, as well as bottled and canned soft drinks. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s the kind of shop that enriches a neighborhood by offering basic treats in a walkable environment. To do that walking, it’s best to have well-polished shoes in good repair, and Andy’s shop can take care of those needs. Before or after that essential stop, Andy and his wife Grace can offer a treat in terms of ice cream, candy, or a cookie – all sweet crimes ironically located across the street from Phoenix’s new police headquarters.
PHX Rail Food 