Students have strong preferences on the subject. While sophomore Lily Feeser works at Mouse’s, she said “I much prefer going to Yankee Girl.” But freshman Jesus Sandoval said, “I usually get my ice cream at Mouse's because they have more menu options, such as drinks.” Freshman Elizbeth Ray agreed. "I generally get my ice cream in Ridgway,” she said, but when she’s in Ouray, "I never go anywhere except Mouse’s."
All these stores have a wide variety of flavors. Yankee Girl sources their ice cream, according to owner Amy Scott, from "Sweet Action in Denver, and Shamrock in Arizona." Mouse’s uses ice cream from Dreyers, Farr's, Meadow Gold, and Blue Rabbit, but Mr. Weihert said that Farr’s and Dreyer’s flavors are the most popular.
The shop owners themselves don’t feel pressure from each other. Mr. Weihert knows “there are other ice cream stores, but I never felt there was competition,” in large part because, as Ms. Scott pointed out, their hours are substantially different.
Plus, as Ms. Scott said, the brands, flavors, and menus complement each other. Offering ice cream was not her original plan - she thought the shop would be all about funnel cakes - but then she found and refurbished the ice cream freezer that had been in the space for decades before, and "everything just fell into place."