Thanks to two Selma residents who have a special appreciation for the sweeter things in life, there is now a place to satisfy your cravings for ice cream, cookies and much more.

Sweet Advantages, located across from the Dallas County Court House on Lauderdale Street, opened Oct. 17 and has been experiencing great success.

“The response has been overwhelming,” said Towanda Gibson, who owns the shop along with her husband Nathan.

Gibson and she and her husband owned an ice cream shop when they lived in Germany, which they said inspired them to bring a similar store to Selma.

“We decided after doing a little research that it really was a good place for children and families to come and have ice cream and listen to old music and really relax,” she said.

And ice cream isn’t the only treat on the menu. Sweet Advantages also offers hot dogs, nachos with cheese, pizza, buttered and caramel popcorn and soup.

Gibson said she wants her shop to offer a family friendly environment to all who visit.

“I think Selma needed this,” she said. “Specifically I think families needed this.”

Sweet Advantages is also located near the Selma Walton Theatre, which Gibson said has been great for business.

“Just yesterday, the movie theater had their senior citizen day and we had all of them here after,” Gibson said. “It’s so nice to hear them talk about the old things that Selma used to have and how it’s becoming lively again with all the new stores. And now they’re so excited that they have a place to go for ice cream.”

Many residents also walk to Sweet Advantages, Gibson said.

“We’ve been getting a lot of walkers too from the downtown area coming in and they had no idea we were here,” she said.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting of Sweet Advantages will be held Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. Store hours are Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“I really think this is going to be a great asset for Selma,” Gibson said. “It feels like family here.”