The opening of the Penn branch of local ice cream favorite Scoop deVille seems to have had little effect on the established Ben and Jerry's on 40th Street.
Ben and Jerry's assistant manager Noah Mewes said he has not seen any difference in sales.
In fact, he was not even aware that Scoop deVille had opened on the eastern end of campus in Houston Hall on April 1.
"The weather's been good and warmer," Mewes said. "We've been getting busier. [Business] hasn't seemed any different."
Although sales are similar, students seem to be especially excited about the latest addition to Penn dining options.
Engineering freshman Justin Steinberg has been to Scoop deVille several times in the past week.
"I think it's going to be kind of like the Starbucks of ice cream because it's a little overpriced, but it's really good," he said. "Ben and Jerry's is close in location from where I live, but Scoop deVille tastes better."
His only complaint is that the line can be a little slow.
Scoop deVille owner Suzan Shore, however, said that the new store has been manageable.
"The students are patient. They don't mind waiting," she said. "I couldn't be happier. ... I don't know too many campuses where you can pick from the variety you have available in that food court, and I'm glad that we can add something special" to Houston Hall.
Shore has also seen more business at her Rittenhouse shop as students have come out to Center City when the Houston Hall location closes over the weekends.
Engineering freshman Samrat Desai has plans to try Scoop deVille in the near future.
He has heard from friends that it is "as good as, or even better than, Ben and Jerry's."
A resident of the Quadrangle, Desai said that he might visit Scoop deVille more often because of proximity.
A sign of Scoop's continued popularity is its repeated presence in the Quad during Spring Fling.
The ice cream shop also plans to have extended hours in the fall.
"It's wonderful," Shore said. "We're very, very pleased with everybody's accepting us."
Still, many students are on the fence when it comes to choosing between the two ice cream options, considering their respective specialities.
Scoop offers customized blended treats, while Ben and Jerry's is more of a classic ice cream parlor.
"It would depend on what kind of ice cream I wanted," College freshman Sara Lenrow said.
