MLive reporter visiting Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor on quest to find state's best ice cream parlor

Washtenaw Dairy co-owner Jim Smith said the local ice cream parlor is honored that MLive reporter John Gonzalez will be visiting on Wednesday as part of his project to find the state’s best ice cream parlor. However, “Gonzo” should not expect any red carpet treatment at the 78-year-old shop on the corner of S. Ashley St. and W. Madison St. near downtown Ann Arbor.

“We won’t put on airs, we’re pretty much just workers,” Smith said.

“You can’t come out and act like you’re something else for one day, and we’ve been so busy that we really don’t have time to do anything special.”

Smith said business this summer has been fast and furious. As he was speaking an employee was “dipping” the last 900 cups from a 6,000-cup order that has to go out on Wednesday.

The workday starts early to make sure everything gets done. The first employees get to the store at two in the morning, the managers follow at four, and doors open at 5 a.m. “every day but Christmas.”

Co-owner Doug Raab said that the morning business primarily is donuts and filling orders.

“If the reporter comes Wednesday during the day, there’s not going to be too much ice cream business,” he said.

“Ice cream is a night thing, that’s when you get people lined up and sitting around the side of the building.”

While ice cream is a big part of the business, Smith said the store also sells 150 dozen donuts a day. His favorite thing to eat from his own store is an old-fashioned maple donut.

“I had one the other day and I said, ‘these are probably the best donuts there are,’” he said. “I don’t really bother eating other people’s donuts, but I love ours.”

Due to the combination of heavy business and a self-professed lack of computer skills, Smith and Raab didn’t campaign at all for the AnnArbor.com poll that overwhelmingly found the dairy to be the most popular parlor in the county.

“Some of us don’t even know how to turn on a computer,” Smith said.

“My partner is in his 80’s and I’m 60-something, we missed the whole tech thing and for us it’s really hard to get into.”

Despite the owner’s lack of technical know-how, the pair have been a major presence in the community for a long time. The support they have received in the voting, may pale in comparison to the support they give to local organizations and fundraising efforts.

Smith said the company donates ice cream or money to several hundred causes a year ranging from a the Zen Buddhist Temple on Packard St. to the Pioneer High School field hockey team.

“We support the community, because the community supports us. That’s why it’s worked all these years,” he said.

“It adds up on your bottom line, but these same people come down with their families and buy ice cream. They’ve come for years and supported us.”

When Gonzo stops by on Wednesday, he may not be pampered, but he’ll be treated to the best ice cream parlor experience Washtenaw County has to offer.

And he may want to try a maple donut.

Join AnnArbor.com community staff members Jessica Webster and Kyle Mattson at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Washtenaw Dairy as John Gonzalez continues his hunt for the best ice cream parlor in Michigan. Can't make it out? Follow our live feed starting at 11 a.m. to talk everything ice cream.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2