Some downtown shops come and go faster than a summer sale, but one ice cream counter in Colorado Springs has stayed busy for 40 years. It started in 1986, and families who once came in as kids now bring their own children for a cone.
The menu mixes old favorites with bold flavors that sound like a dare, like lemon coconut curry. Dairy-free fans get real choices here, not just one lonely sorbet.
Dogs even get their own treats on the patio. The doors stay open until midnight on weekends, which makes late cravings easy to solve.
Keep reading to learn the shop’s story, the flavors locals rave about, the extras most people miss, and the smart tips that help you skip the longest part of the line.
A Scoop Shop on North Tejon
Every busy downtown needs a sweet anchor, and North Tejon Street has had one for a very long time. Josh & John’s sits at 329 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.
The shop is an ice cream parlor first and foremost. It also calls itself The Colorado Craft Creamery, which hints at how seriously the team takes each batch.
Tejon Street is one of the main strolling streets downtown. That makes the shop an easy stop after dinner, a walk, or an afternoon of errands.
Plenty of people find it by word of mouth. Workers at other local businesses send folks over, and even people in nearby Manitou Springs point travelers in this direction.
The shop has built a huge following, with more than 2,600 Google ratings and a 4.6-star average. For a single ice cream counter, that is a whole lot of happy spoons.
So the address is set, and the crowd is real. The next question is how this little shop earned its long run.
Forty Years and Still Counting
Back in 1986, two friends named Josh and John started scooping in Colorado Springs. That year still shows up on the menu today in the name of their 1986 Root Beer.
The shop recently celebrated 40 years in business. Fans came in to mark the birthday, and some even got to meet Josh and John in person.
Four decades is a long time for any small business. The team says it has spent those years making, refining, and improving the ice cream, batch after batch.
That steady care has turned the shop into a local tradition. Many people in town describe it as the ice cream that Colorado Springs grew up loving.
It also remains a local shop at heart. The owners say a lot of their best ideas come from talks with guests and suggestions from the community.
History is nice, but nobody lines up for a birthday alone. The real reason people return lives inside the freezer case.
Homemade Ice Cream With Big Personality
Homemade is the whole point here. The ice cream is made in-house, and the team talks about putting top ingredients and care into every batch.
Fans say the menu has so many flavors that it is hard to make a wrong choice. Regulars often name the shop the best ice cream they have found, even after lots of travel.
Dutch Chocolate is one of the most talked-about classics. Salted Peanut Butter Cup also gets constant praise, and it happens to be gluten free.
Other crowd favorites include Mocha Java Jolt, Yellow Cake, Strawberry, and Moose on the Loose. Oatmeal Cookie, Colorado Cookies and Cream, and Malted Mazel Toff have loyal fans too.
Chocolate chip cookie dough is another easy pick. People note it has a generous amount of cookie dough mixed in.
Not every scoop wins every heart, and a few guests have left wanting more from certain flavors. The good news is that the shop backs each cone with a promise worth knowing about later.
Purple Mountain Majesty, the Local Legend
Colorado Springs sits near the peak that inspired the song America the Beautiful. So it makes sense that the shop’s signature flavor borrows a famous line from it.
Purple Mountain Majesty blends taro with raspberry truffle. The team says it is very proud of this one, and fans often call it their top pick.
Some guests rank it first and Salted Peanut Butter Cup a close second. Others say it is good but not quite their favorite, which shows how personal ice cream can be.
The flavor even shows up in creative forms. One fun option has been ice cream nachos made with Purple Mountain Majesty.
For first-timers, it is a smart flavor to sample. It tells a local story in a single scoop.
Of course, a signature flavor is only one side of the menu. The shop also loves to go much further out on a limb.
Flavors That Sound Like a Dare
Lemon coconut curry sounds like a menu mistake. At this shop, it was a deliberate choice, and fans called it quietly brilliant.
The team likes to push boundaries in a fun, approachable way. Many of these wild ideas start as suggestions from the community.
Special flavors rotate often. Past examples include mango chili, strawberry matcha, and a huckleberry cheesecake.
Seasonal releases bring their own buzz. A Palisade Peach release on a Friday night drew loyal fans who wait for it every year.
The rotation has a small downside. A flavor you love in spring may not return for a while, so it pays to enjoy it while it lasts.
That constant change keeps regulars curious. Each visit can feel like a new chapter, and the next one involves guests who skip dairy entirely.
Real Choices for Dairy-Free Fans
Too often, dairy-free means vanilla or sorbet and nothing else. Josh & John’s breaks that habit with real, interesting options.
Cookie butter crumble is a dairy-free standout that fans adore. Mango chili and strawberry matcha have earned praise too.
Some guests did not even realize they were eating dairy-free ice cream until they asked. That says a lot about how hard the team has worked on these recipes.
The shop rotates its dairy-free flavors as well. Returning guests can often find something new on their next trip.
Gluten-free options also show up in good numbers. Salted Peanut Butter Cup is one popular gluten-free pick.
Families with mixed needs can all order at the same counter. Nobody has to settle for a sad side option, and that is a scoop of good news.
Waffle Cones and Sweet Extras
Ask regulars about the cones and the conversation lasts a while. Waffle cones are the most mentioned topic tied to the shop, with dozens of shout-outs.
A strawberry scoop in a waffle cone is a classic order. Many fans say the cone is half the fun.
The menu goes beyond scoops too. Shakes are popular, and ice cream cookies earn their own praise.
Ice cream cakes are another big draw. They make birthdays and parties a lot easier to plan.
Then there is the 1986 Root Beer. Some guests say it is worth ordering even if you came for ice cream.
With this many options, decisions can get tough. Luckily, the people behind the counter are very good at helping.
The Scoop Team Behind the Counter
Great ice cream gets people in the door. Friendly faces bring them back, and the staff here gets mentioned again and again.
The shop calls its employees the Scoop team. They are known as kind, upbeat, and quick, even when the line is long.
Samples are offered freely. That makes it easy to test a strange flavor before committing to a full scoop.
Several team members have earned shout-outs by name for going above and beyond. Guests say the staff helps make a big menu feel fun instead of overwhelming.
The team seems to care about the business, too. Many people notice a real sense of connection between the workers and the shop.
Not every visit lands perfectly, and a few guests have found the service average. Still, the overall picture is warm and helpful.
Patio Time and Four-Legged Fans
Good news for dog owners: pups are welcome. The shop keeps Scoopy Snacks on hand just for dogs.
There is one simple rule. Dogs enjoy their treats out on the patio rather than inside.
Outdoor seating gives everyone a spot to relax with a cone. Many people like eating their ice cream just outside on a cool downtown evening.
Inside, the shop is clean and nicely decorated. The space feels friendly, even when it gets busy.
Out-of-town guests have suggested a sign on the door saying dogs are welcome. Until then, consider this your heads-up.
Bring the leash and an appetite. Both ends of the leash will leave happy.
Who Lines Up Here
Families are a big part of the crowd. Parents walk over with kids after dinner, and nieces and nephews get their first visit here.
Travelers come too. Business guests on their last night in town stop in, since a trip feels incomplete without local ice cream.
Couples make it a regular date stop. Many have visited several times and keep coming back.
Downtown diners treat it as dessert after a meal nearby. Its late hours make that plan simple.
Some locals proudly admit they eat a lot of this ice cream. They say they have yet to find an equal anywhere.
Popularity has a price, though. The shop is often packed, and the next section explains how to handle that.
Beating the Line Like a Local
Long lines are part of the deal at a popular shop. Parking downtown can also take some patience.
Here is a handy trick. A cooler of pints with a self checkout sits right inside the door for quick grab-and-go orders.
Grab-and-go options make it easy to stock the home freezer. Fans call it the perfect fix when the line stretches long.
Some locations also deliver, and the brand works with GrubHub. Pints are deep frozen, so they arrive still cold.
Walking over from a nearby downtown spot can save parking stress. Many guests stroll in after dinner on Tejon.
The shop also stands behind its scoops with a Scooper Guarantee. If you do not love a flavor, the team is happy to swap it.
Late Hours and the Scoop Bus
Late-night cravings are covered. The shop opens at 11 AM every day.
Sunday through Thursday, it closes at 11 PM. Friday and Saturday, it stays open until midnight.
Those hours make it a natural final stop after a downtown evening. Few dessert spots stay this late.
The fun does not stay on Tejon, either. The company runs two ice cream vans, known as the Scoop Bus, for events.
Couples have hired them for weddings. Guests say booking was affordable and easy, and newlyweds could even hop in and serve guests themselves.
For a full menu and details, the shop’s website covers the downtown location. A party with a Scoop Bus might be the sweetest invitation of the year.
A Cone Worth the Detour
Forty years of scooping does not happen by luck. It comes from steady recipes, fresh ideas, and a team that clearly enjoys the work.
The menu offers both comfort and surprise. Classic chocolate sits next to lemon coconut curry, and both have fans.
Dairy-free and gluten-free guests get real options. Dogs get treats, and families get a reliable after-dinner stop.
Not every flavor will win over every guest. The satisfaction guarantee helps soften that risk.
Plan for a line on busy nights, or grab a pint from the cooler by the door. The late hours give you plenty of time to fit it in.
Downtown Colorado Springs has many reasons to visit. This little shop on Tejon gives you one more, served in a waffle cone.
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