What Happens Next?

For now, Scheunemann says he has no plans to remove or alter the sign. Business, he reports, has been brisk, with an influx of both loyal customers and new patrons drawn by the publicity.

The controversy underscores a modern reality: in the age of social media, a local gesture can become a national litmus test, revealing deep-seated values and divisions with nothing more than a few words on a placard.

As for the customers? They’ll ultimately vote with their wallets—and their cones.