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Young Cleveland landed a job as ice cream maker at Jaxson’s Ice Cream in Dania beach, where

he experimented with ingredients and flavors creating new recipes over 37 years. With this

calling, he was known as “The Ice Cream Man” and carried this name with pride. It’s not only

about perfecting the craft that makes you successful, but also loving what you do, mixed the

connections you make, and the support you gain on the way to finding that success.

 

After leaving Jaxson’s and starting over several times, his customers continued to show support.

They followed him year after year until he reached his goal of gaining his own shop. In 2019,

after many obstacles due to the pandemic, Cleveland’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream was born

thanks to the help and guidance from the City of Miramar. With the support of the City’s leaders

and the community, he was able to remain open, accomplish accolades and recognitions by his

peers. When buying ice cream from Cleveland’s it is not just ice cream, it’s the value and effort

that’s being put in it with great quality ingredients. He creates over fifty flavors which are

available to all ice cream lovers. He listens to his customers by having a suggestion box which

allows anyone to have a say in what flavors will be on display and made. Cleveland states, “One

taste and that’s it!” and proven with a large following of returning customers.

 

When people ask about such accomplishments, he tells them to “Follow your heart and do not

take no for an answer! It took me quite some time to finally be successful and open my

business. That is what inspired me to keep going. Making ice cream is something I love doing

and could not imagine doing anything else. With success comes a few failures at first but what

makes you stronger is learning from mistakes.”

 

Cleveland was celebrated in the SUN Sentinel and made his appearance on Deco drive, allowing

him to speak on his humble beginnings. In February 2021 he was presented with a proclamation

from Broward County, granting to celebrate Mr. Smith each year February 9th as Cleveland Smith

Day recognizing Cleveland’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream shop in Miramar as a true model and

inspiration for representation of diversity in Broward County.