Mike Dobbs’ Little Rascals Toy Shop, just across the street from the ice cream shop.
“ I learned how to run a cash register before I was ten years old,” he said.“ I remember when I was a kid, coming over here to get an ice cream cone.”“ Cookie dough cream, still my favorite!” Dobbs and his wife, Allex, stay on top of things day-to-day, but when summer heat brings in hordes of tourists seeking the sweet, cold concoction, as many as seven people are called upon to dip the tasty treats into the shop’ s signature homemade waffle cones.“ We are hiring,” he said. Sometimes those crowds lead to long lines and a bit of a wait for the ultimate summer treat, but, Dobbs assures,“ It’ s worth the wait.”
On sultry summer days, the cool, air-conditioned parlor is welcome and inviting. Happy families crowd around the old-fashioned ice cream parlor chairs and tables. In the lobby, a player piano plinks out old familiar tunes.
In addition to the classic cone, Miller’ s offers sundaes, including brownie fudge, banana split,
caramel apple, tin roof, turtle, strawberry, Oreo heaven and“ choco-holic heaven.” Also, a waffle cone sundae and a“ teeny tiny sundae.”
Dobbs, 25, graduated from Brown County High School in 2016, and has been running the shop with his wife for about three years.
He said he is grateful to Alan Miller and the Miller family for the great opportunity to buy the town’ s most established ice cream shop.
While the shop consumes a lot of his time, in his spare time he does the yardwork and upkeep on the couple’ s home just outside of town.
Of course, the ice cream trade tends to be a seasonal business. When the summer temperatures are scorching, the air-conditioned ice cream shop is packed with visitors. But during late December to mid-March, the store is closed, and the Dobbs get an opportunity to vacation or just have some time off.
If you are feeling the completely understandable urge to experience for yourself the delight of old-fashioned, home-made ice cream, you need look no further than the giant ice cream cone hanging from the corner of the Village Green Building at 61 West Main Street.
There, just as it has been for nearly 50 years, you will find this classic summer treat, made just as it always was.
Miller’ s Ice Cream House is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m., 6 p. m. on Friday’ s. •
July / August 2023 • Our Brown County 63