Playsets shaped like everyday objects was really a thing with G1. We got stacking blocks, a bonnet, vanity, perfume bottle, and here a shoe! I wonder if anyone thought this implied the ponies were actually really, really tiny and secretly lived in regular household objects?
The name "Satin Slipper Sweet Shoppe" rolls nicely off the tongue. I think personally it might be my second favorite playset, but a lot of that probably has to do with watching the cartoon as a kid and being amazed when this never seen before pony turned up out of nowhere with her ice cream shop. Never gave much thought to it being shaped like a shoe. Sadly the shape and size of the playset means there's not a lot of room for play inside it. And of course the chairs are useless to ponies. But there were plans to release a set of human doll friends this year (and you often saw the playset advertised with Molly), so that could be the reason for that.
A bit strange that this playset was never released in Europe, but the much bigger and less original Perm Shoppe was. They could've even repurposed the playset (or at least some of the accessories) for the Tales series since an ice cream shop played a big part in that cartoon. But maybe they thought it being shaped like a shoe was just a little bit too weird.