Regular in a cup
Statue of the eponymous pup!
Children's Sweet Cream
a bowl of ice cream
regular size coffee and chocolate ice cream
The ice cream case!
Quirky decorations
Sparky's ice cream counter
food
Mango lime sorbet (I think) and honey lavender ice cream
interior
Look for the green sign!
Raspberry - Kiddie Size
Just a sampling of all the flavors.
Tried the peanut butter Oreo and it was delicious!
Matcha and cookies and cream on a waffle cone
Double on a cone
Lots of funky artwork, tasty ice cream, & lovely workers.
Blueberry Muffin ice cream (served to me semi melted)
Outside
Coffee ice cream, Lavender honey ice cream on top, Hot fudge between, Topped w/almonds, mallo cream, whipped cream, & choc chips
food
interior
Steven B.
Nov 2, 2024
You've heard the saying, "I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream." After you've enjoyed a scoop or two from Sparky's you'll definitely will be screaming for more. It's a small shop that almost has a, "dive" type atmosphere. All the ice cream is made in house. You'll find lots of the traditional flavors and then you'll have some creative creations, as well. I was in town for a family wedding and Sparky's was on a list of recommended local businesses to try. It's a favorite of both the bride and groom. I tried the, Sweet Cream and it was way better than your typical vanilla. However, I decided to have a kiddie dish of Raspberry and it was so smooth. It was not overly sweet and had just the right amount of raspberry flavor. The staff is high school and college students, but they make you feel welcomed and they know how to sell you ice cream. In addition to delicious ice cream and a fun staff, you've got to check out the eclectic artwork that hangs on the walls. If your sweet tooth is acting up, Sparky's has the cure for it.
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Vicki W.
Mar 1, 2025
Sparky's is a Columbia classic! This quirky ice cream spot features an eclectic interior and lots of flavor options. The ice cream has a delicious creamy and airy texture, and most flavors taste true to their names. Know that Sparky's is always packed, with very little seating, so plan ahead!
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Kaai L.
Nov 4, 2024
We always come here when we go to Columbia Missouri for swim meets. They have so many different flavors of handmade ice cream. The ice cream is so smooth and creamy and the flavors themselves are top notch! It helps that the service hereIs also great! Each person behind the counter is helpful and friendly. This ice cream shop is pretty big. Ample space for at least 15 swimmers plus parents! The walls are decorated with some interesting paintings and makes this shop unique!
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Krys G.
Jun 23, 2024
Stopped by for an ice cream treat after a long hot day. We couldn't find any parking so I jumped out of the car to get us some ice cream while hubby circled around the block. I was lucky there was no line up and was served quickly. The place is small with a few tables inside and out. I got one scoop strawberry in a waffle cone and ine scoop of the The King in a cup. We both agreed that the ice cream was really tasty. Nice and creamy and full of flavor. Great spot for homemade ice cream.
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Adam S.
Jun 15, 2023
A fantastic local ice cream spot. Sparky's was bursting with pride during Pride Month, and had a great variety of ice cream as we rode our way through Columbia. We had to try their dill pickle flavor because they donate a dollar to a charity for anyone who does. It literally tastes just like pickles, so I wouldn't order it, but it's a fun novelty. They had a "Pride Cake" flavor that I opted for that was really good if not extremely heavy-handed on the sprinkles. I can handle some additional sugar, especially when I'm logging lots of miles, but damn I couldn't finish this one. The friendly server hooked us up with gigantic scoops as well. They also had outdoor seating which was a spot to take a break and gameplan what we wanted to see as first-time Columbia visitors. Highly recommend this spot, and would definitely make it a priority to get back here if I was in the area.
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April B.
Jun 4, 2023
A fun and tasty part of the downtown Columbia food scene. We started going to Sparky's when the original pup was still around. With funky decor (where do they find all those paintings?) and helpful staff always willing to give you a taste of a new flavor, this is a fun place for a cool treat! Come in a try one of their original flavors or a classic. The cinnamon is amazing and not found many places.
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Megan H.
Jul 25, 2024
I visited Sparky's with a few friends of mine, the sweet cream ice cream was delicious and I love the feel of a homemade ice cream shop it was very cute and cozy. It's also in a perfect location just a few blocks from campus. However while I waited in line, maybe 5ish mins the amount of ice cream the workers kept eating with their little spoons was off putting. I observed two out of the three people working take a bite of ice cream four or five times each. Just not something you want to see while ordering your own ice cream.
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Ebony C.
Jan 22, 2023
Homemade ice cream flavors you'd never think were good, but they are!They also have great customer service and prices. I love Andy's and I know they have custard but I'm telling you, this is better on the palate and pocket!My only con: it's hard to make a choice between which flavors.
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Bree G.
Jul 8, 2023
We found this gem (thanks to Yelp!) on a baseball weekend in Columbia. We went here 2 nights in a row. Expect a line out the door, but it's worth the wait!! Both my husband and son got the Oreo Speedwagon twice, and said it was better than a shall-not-be-named very famous ice cream shop in KC. What?!? The cinnamon flavor was to die for, and even the standard mint chip was so good, I almost got it twice. Seriously Heaven on earth. And while you're in line, check out the odd and funky art on the walls. This is now going to be a must-stop anytime we're driving from KC to ST Louis.
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Rhonda B.
Sep 28, 2023
Ice cream was yummy. It would be helpful to update the list of flavors. The one by the front door was disappointingly outdated and thus the flavors we walked in wanting---- weren't available. The flow of the store would operate better if there was signage above to know what flavors are available. It does not. So when there is a line, such as when we were there- you had no idea what the options were until you were directly in front of the glass. Which obviously slows the line down as decisions can't be made until you are being served.
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