Ben & Jerry’s, the socially conscious ice cream chain, is planning to open one of its scoop shops in downtown Asheville.

A Ben & Jerry’s franchisee has pulled construction permits to open at 19 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. That’s near Woolworth Walk, and across the street from Miles Building. (Hat tip to loyal reader Daniel for the news tip.) It’s also just a few doors down from Urban Outfitters, a national chain whose opening in Asheville several years ago sparked Asheville’s “buy local” movement known as Asheville Grown.

It’s also ironic that news of the Ben & Jerry’s plan for downtown comes as we’re celebrating our locally owned independent businesses as part of Love Asheville Go Local Week.

Two Vermont hippies started Ben & Jerry’s as a socially conscious business in the 1980s, and the company maintains that mission even after its owners sold out to Unilever in 2000. (Ben & Jerry’s is now a part of the conglomerate Unilever.)

According to a 2015 New York Times story, Ben & Jerry’s offers its lowest-paid workers more than twice the national minimum wage, uses cage-free eggs and is a B Corporation, a voluntary certification that states the company strives to uphold high social and environmental standards. (New Belgium Brewing is also a B Corp, for example.) Ben & Jerry’s supports gay marriage and has ice cream flavors intended to raise awareness of climate change.

The company also continues to fend off competition by offering new products, such as Greek yogurt and ice cream bars, as well as vegan and low fat offerings.

Still, Ben & Jerry’s plans for downtown Asheville will certainly activate those forces fighting against the “chaining” of downtown.