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Coming next year to the already crowded ice cream market in Arlington are not one but two FroZenYo stores. The frozen yogurt chain will follow Sweetgreen (opening in Ballston any day now) and Red Mango (opened in May). The List consulted peddlers of frozen treats to see how they’re reacting to the increasing competition. Some dessert trash talk ensued.

1. Owners unsurprised that other businesses want to imitate in their success

   “I’m not surprised,” says Cristian Velasco, owner of Boccato Gelato & Espresso. “It’s not that hard to open an ice cream shop.” Says Monte Winterhalter of Red Mango: “We had a barn burner of a summer. We’re not surprised that other people are putting their shingle up.”

2. Owner explains the reason why people set up shop in Arlington

   Winterhalter says it’s obvious: “Everybody’s skinny and works out three times a day.”

3. Owners brush off competition

   “I’m not concerned about the competition,” scoffs Velasco. He explains that gelato, an “old-world” treat, is “completely different” from ice cream or frozen yogurt. Winterhalter says his fro yo “usually wins taste tests” and is unlikely to be threatened by newcomers. Rose, owner of Arax Café, says that she did see a drop in ice cream sales starting last year but is confident that her ice cream will not be threatened by newcomers. “Everybody likes it,” she says. “We don’t have complaints.”

4. Owner confident new shops will cancel each other out

   Citing high rents and a crowded market, Velasco doubts that many more frozen yogurt shops will survive in Arlington. “When they open three or four across from each other,” he says, “they’re really going to kill each other.”