Edgar Allen Poe is eating a strawberry ice cream cone. Franz Kafka is enjoying Cream de Mint Chip. And Herman Hesse looks as if he thinks you’re considering taking a lick of his Swiss chocolate almond.

You’ll find them indulging in their favorite flavors at Stucchi’s on State. New owners Jim and Sara Seta commissioned artist Zeke Mallory to paint a huge mural depicting nearby landmarks like the State Theater and Burton Tower. Every person in the picture is eating an ice cream cone, including the aforementioned wwriters–depicted in a miniature version of the iconic mural on the neighboring building at State and Liberty.

The Setas took over the franchise at the end of the year from Ashvin Amin (who still owns the Stucchi’s on South University). Founded in 1986 by brothers Chris and Dave Fichera, Stucchi’s is now owned by Detroit businessman Casey Askar, who also owns the Papa Romano’s Pizza and Mr. Pita chains.

This is the Setas’ second Stucchi’s; they opened their first, in Dexter, in 2007. They’ve completely remodeled their new store, repainting, installing new light fixtures, adding televisions, and putting up a big chalkboard on the back wall for kids to draw on. They currently carry thirty-two flavors, but Sara says they may add more–corporate offers upwards of sixty. “And if we come up with our own flavor,” she adds, “they’ll try and make it for us.”

Stucchi’s, 302 S. State, 662-1700, Mon.-Sat. 1-10 p.m., Sun. 1 -9 p.m. www.stucchisofdexter.com

This article has been edited since it appeared in the February 2012 Ann Arbor Observer. The list of chains owned by Casey Askar has been corrected.