Here’s the inside scoop on The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s ice cream shop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Since we now have a home just blocks from The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the opening of Ree’s latest venture — Charlie’s Sweet Shop.

We were given a peek inside recently and here’s what we learned.

The name of Ree Drummond’s ice cream shop

Charlie’s Sweet Shop was named after the Drummonds’ longtime pet, Charlie, an easy-going basset hound whom Ree wrote loved little smokies and hated baths. Sadly, the Drummonds said goodbye to Charlie when he passed away in 2017.

However, a larger than life caricature of Charlie now adorns the wall of the sweet shop. It will surely evoke fond memories for those who knew him in real life as well as those who grew to love him through Ree’s blog and Food Network show. We think the name is a thoughtful tribute to a cherished pet. As the sign says, the sweet shop is “in memory of Charlie, the ultimate sweetheart.”

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The ice cream at Ree Drummond’s shop

We could not have been more thrilled to learn that Ree, Ladd, and their team chose Tillamook ice cream for Charlie’s Sweet Shop. We have been longtime fans of Tillmook cheese and buy it in large blocks at Sam’s Club regularly. A couple of years ago, we stumbled upon the town of Tillamook along the Oregon Coast. While there, we visited the Tillamook Creamery; you can read all about that visit HERE.

That was the first time we tried Tillamook’s rich, creamy ice cream and we instantly fell in love. Charlie’s Sweet Shop will offer a variety of the popular Tillamook flavors, including: Coffee Almond Fudge, Oregon Strawberry, Mountain Huckleberry, Monster Cookie, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Cookies & Cream.

We sampled the Coffee Almond Fudge and Monster Cookie at Charlie’s this week and let’s just say we’ll be back for full servings very soon. Charlie’s will offer three different sizes of scoops, along with a variety signature sundaes including a “Road to the Ranch” sundae with Rocky Road and Mudslide ice cream. You can also order the “Unicorn & Rainbows” sundae which includes orange sherbet, Oregon Strawberry ice cream, chunks of rainbow crispy treats, and more. Not surprisingly, the prices are very reasonable!

The waffle cones, bowls, and baked goods

Charlie’s staff will be in the shop early each morning to prepare the house-made waffle cones and bowls. Jackie Cade, who is the bakery and coffee queen at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, said Charlie’s will use fresh-baked goods from The Merc in the speciality sundaes. And yes, that includes Ree’s delicious chocolate chip cookies.

All of this means that it’s now possible to get Ree’s “Knock You Naked Brownies” served with creamy Tillamook ice cream house made hot fudge, and extra toppings. Have I died and gone to heaven? Ice cream lovers rejoice!

The sweets and drinks

Additional sweet treats, including bulk candy that was previously available at the second-floor bakery at The Mercantile, is now across the street from Charlie’s Sweet Shop. When we stopped by, they were filling the tables with lots of yummy treats.

You can now purchase pre-packaged sweet treats like Gummy Bears and Runts at the sweet shop along with a wide variety of taffy flavors. They also sell chocolate favorites like malted milk balls (my FAV!) as well as white and milk chocolate covered pretzels. They’ll also have old fashioned candies like Chick-O-Sticks and lemon drops.

Charlie’s will also serve The Mercantile’s fresh made iced tea and real, honest-to-goodness lemonade. In addition, there’s a freestyle Coca-Cola machine with endless soda options.

The decor at Ree Drummond’s ice cream shop

The decor at Charlie’s Sweet Shop is simply gorgeous. It includes white-painted brick walls with fun murals. There is some mint (chip) green furniture, and beautiful dark wood floors. And when you step inside Ree Drummond’s new ice cream shop onto the white tile in the entry, be sure to look up. You don’t want to miss the big a%# fan on the black tin ceiling. Sorry for the language, but it really is a big a&% fan. I’m serious — that’s the name of the company that made it. If you don’t believe me, you can visit their website HERE.

The fan was already in the space, which used to be a local hot dog shop called The Prairie Dog. The Drummonds added the logo with Charlie on the south wall. Along the opposite wall, they installed a long bench with lots of cafe tables where folks can enjoy their sweet treats.

We snapped these photos while they were still setting things up. And then, as if this place wasn’t cute enough, they had a custom mini farmhouse table made for kids.

The cutest mini farmhouse table

Is this the most darling thing you’ve ever seen or what? And there are tiny mint green chairs on the way.

We were told that Ree really wanted the sweet shop to be a special place for children. With that in mind, the Drummonds enlisted the help of local carpenter Matt Songer of Songer Woodshop. Matt designed and built the most adorable mini farmhouse table for kids who visit Charlie’s Sweet Shop. It is painted mint green like some of the other pieces in the shop and is a wonderful and unique feature in an already sweet space.

The hours and souvenirs at the ice cream shop

Ree Drummond’s ice cream shop will be open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is located on the ground floor of the same building in downtown Pawhuska that houses The Pioneer Woman’s P-Town Pizza restaurant. How great is it that you can have lunch or supper upstairs and then come down for an ice cream dessert? Or, you can just start with dessert if you’re so inclined. We won’t judge you. In fact, we just might join you.

The mint green t-shirts that staff at Charlie’s wear will also be available for purchase at the sweet shop. You can get your very own Charlie’s Sweet Shop tee like the one our friend, Kadie, is holding in the picture above for $20 + tax.

A word on bananas

If you’re a regular reader of The Pioneer Woman blog or a viewer of her show on Food Network, you probably know that Ree doesn’t like loathes bananas. She doesn’t like them, eat them, or serve them in her restaurant. However, she wrote on Instagram recently, “I’m trying.”

We’re not sure if Ree is making an exception to her no bananas rule or if the staff was just feeling ornery when they created the menu at Charlie’s. Either way, they’ve definitely gone bananas. There are three different “Bootleg Banana Splits” on the menu. There’s The Classic, the Candyland (with Birthday Cake, Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Peanut Butter ice creams) and the Bakery Blast (made with three different ice cream flavors and topped with all our favorite baked goods from The Merc).

Lots to do in Pawhuska

Charlie’s Sweet Shop at 515 Kihekah is just one more reason to visit the small-town of Pawhuska (pop. 3,377). Since the Drummonds opened The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Osage County in the fall of 2016, Pawhuska has been steadily growing. In fact, it quickly has become a top destination for tourists. Since our first visit to The Mercantile, other Pioneer Woman businesses like P-Town Pizza and The Boarding House, have opened, along with a host of other great shops. Yes, downtown Pawhuska is THE place to be.

With new retail stores, museums, and attractions popping up every week, Pawhuska is an ideal destination for a couples getaway, a girls trip, or a family vacation. You can join our Visit Pawhuska Facebook page to be the first to know what’s new in town! And, to help plan your trip to Pawhuska, check out our post on 70+ things to do in Pawhuska after you’ve eaten at The Mercantile, as well as our post on places to stay in town.

We hope you’ll come — and come quickly before Ree changes her mind about the bananas!