J.P. Licks is bringing its ice cream to Harvard Square

J.P. Licks, whose May speciality flavors include Fresh Banana Oreo and Margarita Sorbet, said it plans to open one of its Homemade Ice Cream Cafes in Harvard Square in late June.

A retail concept that was founded in Jamaica Plain in 1981 is returning to Cambridge after a long absence; it briefly had a store in Inman Square, which later became Christina's under different ownership.

At a location in Somerville's Davis Square, J.P. Licks appears to do a brisk trade.

But in Harvard Square, ice cream stores can seem as ubiquitous as espresso drinks and overeducated pedestrians. Among the square's ice cream options is Herrell's Ice Cream.

J.P. Licks founder and owner Vince Petryk is undaunted at the prospect of having his chain's eighth store surrounded by rival ice cream purveyors.

"We never compete," he wrote in an e-mail. "We just do our best, and it's worked for 27 years."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)