The Spelled Milk keeps the cereals coming

When you walk into The Spelled Milk on West Davis Street, it’s hard to find one thing to focus on. Not in a cluttered, disorganized, chaotic way, but there’s just so much to see.

The walls are filled with murals, including a mystical wizard lounging with a cereal box in hand, displays of unique worldwide flavors, and the Fruity Pebbles, Frosted Flakes, Reese’s Puffs and Apple Jacks painted restroom entrance at the back corner of the shop.

The local cereal bar and dessert lounge, founded by Michael Goode two years ago, has everything you could imagine. In addition to the murals, there are games on every table, an array of knick-knacks and snacks, a cooler filled with drinks, and a wall of hundreds of cereal options. But there’s more.

“We reach 1,000 cereals this week,” Goode says excitedly during our March interview.

The selection includes cereals, ice creams, milkshakes, coffees, hot cocoas and sweet treats with dairy-free options. In the front of the menu, you’ll find cereal combos with milk and handmade whipped cream ($6.98) for those who can’t decide.

Goode says the most cereals he’s seen in one “build your own” bowl at a time is 32 different types. A cereal flight ($15.99) is also available with four cereal bowls of choice, paired with two scoops of ice cream and served with milk on the side.

Additionally, one section of the menu titled “The Enchanted Brew” lists out options for smoothies, ice cream floats, teas, refreshers, cereal protein shakes and cereal milks.

Some of the most popular items are the milkshakes ($9.98-$12.50). The Tootie Fruity includes vanilla ice cream, Fruity Pebbles and mallow cream sprinkled with the cereal dust on top of the whipped cream. The Feelin’ Lucky blends vanilla ice cream, Lucky Charms and mallow cream with cereal marshmallow charms on top.

One of Goode’s personal favorites is The Butter Frog with vanilla ice cream, Honey Smacks cereal and house honey butter finished with Honey Smacks and The Spelled Milk’s famous honey sauce. Another popular item is the slice of cake (which changes flavors daily) available for $6.

And all this started with a long-time dream, he says.

“I’ve always loved the art on cereal. People assume I eat cereal for every meal, it’s so funny. I really don’t,” he says. “And what’s really funny is I love making ice cream, but I’m not a huge ice cream fan. I’m one of those, take two bites, ‘OK, I’m good.’ But if you told me 10 years ago I’d be making ice cream, I would say, ‘Yeah, right.’ And I love it. I love it.”

Prior to The Spelled Milk, Goode was already working in the restaurant industry. Then, around 2021, he describes an experience that changed his life forever.

Goode was working overnight at a diner at the time, and often, it was just him waiting on about 30 tables. During his last two years working at the location, he was getting sick a lot, but his doctor would just say he had allergies.

One night a service worker had come to install digital screens and was having difficulty. He didn’t mention what the problem was to Goode, but said he would come back the next night.

On his second visit, he asked Goode for assistance to get to the attic. Creating a makeshift ladder out of milk crates and a bar stool, Goode was able to reach it.

“And I’ll never forget it. I lifted up the attic and the whole attic was just full of black goo and white fuzz. And I came back down. Instantly, my eyes were watering and just, ugh. And it was black mold.”

Goode went to a specialist to seek treatment, leaving work for over a year and a half to go through detoxes. As his health began to improve, he caught another snag after relocating in 2023 to a new unit in his Irving apartment complex.

“I woke up the first day at this apartment in the new building. I just felt that feeling again, and I thought, ‘Oh, no, dear God, I can’t with the black mold again,’” he says.

This time, he had his specialist on hand, but black mold was ruled out. He went months without answers, getting so weak that friends had to bring meals to his apartment.

“It got to the point where just to go to Walmart, I would literally sit on the edge of my bed for two hours … just going to Walmart, it was like an all-day thing for me,” he says.

When Goode spotted a neighbor moving out quickly after moving in, he finally got his answer: methane gas was leaking into the apartments due to defective pipes.

“I literally was making peace with dying,” he says. “I’m so grateful I’m here today.”

Goode added that he doesn’t share his health troubles as a sob story, but rather highlights that led to him opening The Spelled Milk.

“That’s exactly how I got here, so in a way I’m grateful it happened, but I’m not,” he says. “I’m still paying the toll for it.”

Despite what’s happened, he uses his experiences to help others. As you exit the lounge, four boxes hang by the doorway. There, customers put in a token to a charity of choice. Those charities will receive a portion of The Spelled Milk profits each week, with one always for the causes of black mold or methane gas exposure.

Like the rotation of charities, the menu often switches up as well. About every three months, there’s a new version, and every week, they change the ice cream cookies.

The menu is not the only thing changing in the coming months for The Spelled Milk. Goode will be adding a rare Kellogg’s store display to the West Davis Street location. He also plans to expand with a new location, though where has not been solidified quite yet.

“Our next location will be double-sized and then maybe drive-thru … I’m so excited,” Goode says. “I can’t wait.”

The Spelled Milk, 712 W. Davis St., 214.484.3714, thespelledmilk.com