NORFOLK, Neb. -- It is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day and northeast Nebraska has many places, including MJ’s Gelato and Udder Delights, that can provide an easy cool down on a hot summer day.

MJ’s Gelato, in Norfolk, and Udder Delights, in Wayne, service their respective towns throughout the year but make the 100-degree days in Nebraska a little more bearable.

Jerrae Braun, owner of Udder Delights, has been the owner for 26 years and expects this summer to be packed full of ice cream and the business’ specialty “boozy” shakes, which they serve all day long. 

Braun said that some of the best memories of the summer revolve around the traveling baseball and softball teams who stop in Wayne to enjoy a cool down from the heat.

The current building showcases a bar, tables, and an outside patio with a fire pit to enjoy the summer weather.

MJ’s Gelato & More in Norfolk offers gelato, cakes, and more. Steven Carlsen, owner with his wife, Karen, is excited about the first summer as the owner of MJ’s and has enjoyed the first two months at the helm of the dessert establishment.

“Honestly, the overwhelming support from the community has been awesome,” Carlsen said. “Getting used to interacting with the public in a retail environment has been very interesting. [And] Just kind of seeing the amount of people. We really love when they sit down and, just kind of, enjoy their gelato and relax in the environment and the community has just been really cool.”

The former military veterans became owners in April this year and have specials planned throughout the summer, but will also celebrate a national holiday on Thursday, June 8. 

“We’re going to run specials that will kind of go along with holidays and things like that where we, kind of, give away a free piccolo,” Carlsen said. “[Like] tomorrow is National Karen Day, my wife’s name is Karen, so anybody with the name Karen, we’re going to give them a free piccolo gelato.”