Ice cream shop thrives in improved location

Locally-owned retro ice cream cafe The Hop invites students and other Asheville residents to enjoy a scoop of homemade ice cream in a funky environment.

"The Hop was a retro building, a retro name, and it just makes people think of a simple time when you could eat ice cream and twist the night away," said owners and UNC Asheville alumni Ashley and Greg Garrison.

Disrepair along with costly cooling prompted the move of The Hop to its present location in Merrimon Square.

"The previous building was a rental space," Ashley said. "Unfortunately, the property was neglected a fair amount of time after the last renovation in the mid-'90s. There was no air conditioning - temperatures would easily reach 100 degrees in the summer with hot exhaust pouring in from the drive-through and the coolers blowing hot air on us - and we had very little indoor seating and little parking."

The space also proved hard to keep clean because of a bad roof.

"We scooped with buckets littering the floor to catch the water if it was raining so we wouldn't slip in puddles," she said. "The previous owners were approached about moving to Merrimon Square and decided it was a good decision when they were faced with the property owner asking them to replace the roof."

In August, the Garrisons became the fifth owners of The Hop in 31 years.

"I had been employed by the previous owners since August 2003. Greg was also employed in 2005-06 for about 18 months," she said.

Because of the move, the past owners held a mural contest for the interior of the new location, adding to the theme.

"Larkin Ford, a then-UNCA art student, submitted a unique and fun rendition of a sock-hop in our old location," Greg said. "The details of the mural were left up to him, and in December of 2007, he finished the now-funky ice cream-inspired animal dance scene."

The names of the flavors, such as the Jitterbug, a milkshake with espresso, also stem from the general sock-hop theme.

"They make really great milkshakes," said Courtney Metz, a senior double majoring in mass communication and management.

The Hop uses natural ingredients such as Madagascar pure vanilla extract, contributing to the quality of their ice cream.

"The amount of flavors is limitless, but we typically keep in 14 to 16 regular flavors, one to three vegan/gluten-free flavors, as well as sorbet, sherbet and sugar free," Greg said.

The Hop offers various discounts, including 10 percent off if patrons bring in their own container.

"Save resources, since we unfortunately have to use disposables," he said. "We also offer 10 percent off to all UNCA and North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement staff, faculty and students everyday."

The café also provides an additional 20 percent off every Thursday for Bulldog Day and 10 percent off if patrons eat at Urban Burrito.

"The liberal arts education we received from UNCA has prepared us for the small business community with an open mind and the ability to communicate comfortably," the owners said. "We love interaction, talking to people and making them happy with our ice cream."

Students say convenience is one of their favorite things about The Hop.

"I live in Pinnacle Ridge, so I can take a two minute walk and I'm there," Metz said. "I love that I can get great ice cream that's really close."

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