An ice cream parlor is opening on Grand Avenue Thursday, just in time to provide relief from the summer heat.

The bright little shop called Warehouse of Possibilities is opening next door to The Columbine.

It is the endeavor of Dan and Darlene Evans, who have been considering their location for about a year.

"We were looking for new opportunities and this is something we both wanted to do for a long time," Darlene said.

In addition to tempting ice cream cones, the store will offer cards, fresh-cut flowers, Joy's Jams and Jellies, candy and nostalgic toys, like jacks and squirt guns.

A red and white vinyl booth, a street-facing counter, table-size checkers set and handmade quilts lining the walls all contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere. Evans hopes it will be a place where locals gather in the evenings.

"I'm trying to fill a niche," Darlene said.

The shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and she hopes to fill a void in the community as an after-school and late-night dessert destination.

In the future, she hopes to buy the building and open a small garden in the back.

"I want to be one of those businesses that's going to be longstanding," she said.

Darlene brings 30 years of experience in office administration as helped other small businesses launch, and Dan was self-employed as a carpenter for part of his career.

The couple came to Mancos two years ago after living on a citrus orchard in Hawaii for 10 years.

"We were ready to take on a new adventure," she said.

They took a three-month road trip trying to decide on a new place to live, and no other place seemed like a good fit. They loved the town's farm and ranch culture and by opening the store hope to become a more integral part of the community.

The store at 121 W. Grand Ave. will be open Tuesday through Saturday. If you stop by on horseback, the store will offer you a 20 percent discount on an ice cream cone.