Ashley and Greg Garrison, owners of The Hop ice cream shop in Asheville, announced plans Wednesday to open a production facility on Haywood Road in West Asheville. The 2,500-square-foot space will allow The Hop to meet increased demand for its ice cream, Greg Garrison said. The space will include a small tasting room and will be available for tours.
The location – at 167 Haywood Road, Suite 20, in what is known as East/West Asheville – will put The Hop right across the street from the new Hole doughnut shop under construction, and just down the street from the Urban Orchard cider-makers and Short Street Cakes. Call it Sugar Alley, or maybe Dessert Row. That section of Haywood Road is also within walking distance of the New Belgium Brewing brewery under construction on Craven Street.
The Hop currently has two retail stores – at 640 Merrimon Ave. in the Merrimon Square Shopping Center and at 721 Haywood Road.
“The main reason for the new location is to make the operation at the Merrimon store and our other one smoother and better experience for the customer,” Garrison said. “Right now, there’s too much coming and going. We’re totally out of space,” he added.
Click over to Asheville Grit to read the full story about The Hop and its planned expansion.
16 Comments
Yes, but trying to find a plain old fashioned delicious bit of homemade vanilla, strawberry or chocolate ice cream there is a fool’s errand. Many of the flavors are too bland or just plain novelty. Kale ice cream, are you kidding me?
The Hop has good ice cream. I had a Gaelic Ale cone one time, heavenly.
I’m on a weekly regiment with the jitterbug shake, and love the vegan options!
Its’ “regimen”, unless you are in the cavalry.
This couple has done a great job with their business. I’ve never had anything but delicious ice cream at The Hop. That reminds me. It’s that time of the month again. Time to go get some Hop ice cream.
danielle plainview, darlin’ How can you criticize a small company trying to make it. They started on a shoe string and have worked their way to a real company, you should be applauding their efforts in a town that has so few opportunities. Get with the program. If you dont like it dont eat it, but dont go slamming them just because you chose something you didnt like when you went there once. I wish them all good luck and shall be visiting their new facility as soon as it comes on line. Well done The Hop, and congratulations on the upgrade.
I’ve tried several of their flavors. I do not think their Ice cream is great. “Get with the program?”. Suck my twat Helen.
My guess is, you couldn’t even get your dog to do that.
Hoooaaah! Gonna need some ice cream for that BURN.
New ice cream flavor: Twatsucker’s Delight
They growin’ ’em smart down in Franklin these days…
The scores of people waiting in line would disagree.
No. It would not.
that’s great news! The Hop makes great ice cream – and they are a very community minded local business as well!
They would be wiser to finance Ultimate Ice Cream. The Hop’s Ice Cream is not great at all.
Such a thoughtful and constructive comment! I hope the owners read that and take your advice, and hopefully many other readers here will never patronize the Hop because it’s not the best.
I can think of dozens, if not hundreds, of sub par restaurants that continue to expand. It’s ok. It’s quite possible that business is healthy and there is a demand for more, even if it’s not the best ice cream in Asheville. Just let the nice people make ice cream.
You’re absolutely right. All ice cream can’t be excellent. I wish them success.