Well, we’ve got the scoop.
Now that we have the obvious pun out of the way, we can tell you that Eat It and Like It has learned that Broughton Street, Downtown Savannah’s main shopping thoroughfare, is about to get it’s second major ice cream shop. Multiple sources have confirmed to us that Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream will be opening in in the near future at 25 East Broughton Street. At the corner of Broughton and Drayton Streets.
The move could be viewed as somewhat surprising considering the overwhelming popularity of Savannah favorite Leopold’s Ice Cream just over a block away. Then again not surprising considering the efforts being made to enhance the variety of shops on Broughton Street led largely by developer Ben Carter.
Some many not remember, this is actually Ben and Jerry’s 2nd attempt at an ice cream scoop shop in Savannah. A B&J shop previously existed at 1 West River Street in the tunnel underneath the Hyatt Hotel. Savannah Bee Company occupies that space now. That Ben and Jerry’s closed in the early 2000’s.
The attempts to revitalize Broughton Street continue with plans for cosmetic updates as well as the addition of a temporary visitor’s center on an opposite corner of Broughton and Drayton Streets. The idea being to offer tourists on foot a wide variety of information about Savannah and its attractions without having to walk up to the main visitor’s center on Martin Luther King, Junior Blvd. or Visit Savannah at the corner of Drayton and Bay Streets.
Leopold’s Ice Cream has dominated the landscape in Savannah since they re-opened in 2004. Their shop on Broughton Street is arguably one of the most popular stops for tourists upon visiting the city. Meanwhile, work continues on the restoration of Leopold’s original location at the corner or Habersham and Gwinnett Street in Savannah’s Victorian District. Leopold’s original sign hangs in that spot. Work is slow in that space, but I am assured it is moving forward.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream was founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. They started with 12 flavors. Today there are over 5,800 Ben and Jerry’s eating locations around the world. No timetable has been released on the opening in Savannah.
See you on TV,
Jesse
