From SFGate: As the economy clobbers some stores, ice cream franchises are scooping out a successful niche as recession-weary Americans indulge in what remains one of life's affordable pleasures.

"We're busy as ever on the retail side," said Linda Mitchell of Mitchell's Ice Cream, a family-owned business in San Francisco that makes its product fresh every day.

"Ice cream, while not as inexpensive as it used to be, is still low enough that families feel like they can treat themselves," she said.

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