Like stepping back in time, the Sweet Retreat is an old fashioned soda fountain and ice cream shop. The decor is straight from the fifties. Black and white checkered floor stretches the length of the building while chrome legged tables and stool style chairs covered with red vinyl dot throughout the room. Along one wall is a long bar with stools and plenty of seating with a cash register at one end. The menu boasts all sorts of beverages, drinks, shakes and dessert concoctions with cakes, fudges, ice creams and every kind of candy imaginable. Different snack foods are also available for purchase. Nachos, chili cheese fries, cheese sticks, poutine, frito pies and a variety of other finger type foods.

A rectangle window allows communication between the fountain area and kitchen for orders to be handed out. The lighting is from chains hanging from the ceiling with an advertisement for Coca~Cola on the surrounding globes. An old fashioned jukebox with old fashioned music piping out of it is along the back wall with a few chairs to sit and enjoy the tunes and enjoy your food and ice cream. The waitresses wear white shirts tied at the waist and poodle skirts with scarves in their hair. The waiters wear white shirts and jeans rolled up to make a cuff at the ankle.

The store always has one cook working the back who also serves as the manager. The waitstaff, with their signature uniforms, varies by on or off season and usually consist, on season, with additional help from the local high school students looking for summer cash. Shifts are usually split on two, or three shifts to accommodate school schedules.