The Hop Ice Cream

Some awesome events happening in the coming weeks that we will be a part of with dairy and vegan ice cream!

Friday 8/23 at
Rockypalooza ( will be there too)

Saturday 8/24 at
Transfigurations Lot Party

Saturday 8/24 at Pack Square
Final of the season

Saturday 8/31 & Sunday 9/1 at JBL


Friday 9/6 & Saturday 9/7 at Pack Square
and in the Park

Many thanks to the Asheville Citizen Times and WLOS ABC 13 for spreading the word about the Merrimon location. We are feeling the love❤️❤️❤️

Link to the stories are in the comments.

Just dropping in to say that we are so full of gratitude... With the ongoing water damage issues at The Hop’s Merrimon Ave location (and now also at The Hop West 😔), this has been a difficult time for Ashley and me. It’s hard to admit that here and to feel this vulnerability, but what’s more important is the incredible support you all have shown us by visiting our other locations and Pop Bubble Tea 博 (which is still open). Your messages, calls, shared posts and stories have all reminded us why we love this city, its people, and The Hop so much, and we are so grateful for every one of you.

Repairs at Merrimon are moving along, and we are in good hands. We are able to compensate the Hopsters from that location for the hours they were originally scheduled to work. There are still a few unknowns at the moment, but as soon as we have an update on reopening, I will let you know. The Hop West remains open, though there may be some work starting there soon as well.

In other news, Thursday Ashley and I celebrated the 16th anniversary of the day we took over The Hop. While our celebrations were muted by our current circumstances, we look forward to putting something together when the dust settles :)

Much love,
Greg

Lucuma Dulce de Leche Ice Cream is back at SWAsheville! Chef Santiago Vargas of Mikasa Criolla Avl is the brains behind this twist on a classic Peruvian flavor of his childhood. It contains pure lucuma pulp in the base with Chef Vargas' famous lucuma dulce de leche swirled throughout. Delicious, especially paired with Mikasa Empanadas!!! 🤌

We will keep this in rotation at S&W Food Hall through August and into September :)

Giving a huge shout to our Merrimon Square neighbors at , who are dealing with some of the same water damage issues we are right now. They have been amazing neighbors since day one and were even down here with shop vacs cleaning up water after the leak on Monday.

We encourage you to check out their wide variety of vegan burgers and combos! They are great people too ❤️

Feeling grateful today that The Hop in West Asheville is open and for the amazing love from this community 🫶

The Hop on Merrimon Temporarily Closed - Pop Bubble Tea 博 & The Hop’s Other Locations Open.

Dear Friends of The Hop Ice Cream,
As some of you may know, due to a backed-up drain in the suite above us, The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave has sustained significant water damage, forcing us to close our doors temporarily for repairs. We anticipate being closed for around two weeks as we work to restore the space. Thankfully, during that time, Pop Bubble Tea will remain open with minimal disruption. Right now, Ashley and I are focused on cleaning up, drying out, and working on a plan to take care of the Hopsters from that location.

Considering the time of year, this is obviously a huge blow for us. The incredible support some of you, including our neighbors upstairs, have already shown us during this unexpected situation has been so amazing and uplifting. At this point, the most helpful thing anyone can do is to keep enjoying our handcrafted ice cream at one of our other locations (addresses and hours are below), stop by the still-open Pop Bubble Tea, and/or encourage others to do the same.

I will update on our social media as we have more information. We love you all and are truly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Much Love,
Greg

The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd
Daily 12-10pm

Pop Bubble Tea
640 Merrimon Ave
Daily 12-8pm

The Hop Downtown
56 Patton Ave inside SWAsheville
M-R 11:30am-8pm
F-Sa 11:30am-9pm
Su 11:30am-7pm

The Hop Black Mountain
114 Cherry St
Daily 12-9pm

The Hop at 640 Merrimon Ave will be closed today due to a leak overnight. will be open at 1pm. Hours for the other Hop locations are as follows:
721 Haywood Rd, 12-10pm
56 Patton Ave inside , 11:30am-8pm
114 Cherry St in downtown Black Mountain, 12-9pm

Guess what flavor is coming back to this Friday!?!? Here’s a hint: it’s a collaboration with and the top scoop in the photo 😉

It’s the FINAL WEEK of this incredible community raffle! Support the work of and by entering to win over $1000 of prizes featuring local businesses like The Hop, , , , , , and . Slide to see a list a full list of prizes. There will be one lucky winner selected this Monday August 12th!

Tickets are $5 a piece with unlimited entries. All proceeds go towards support for free food access programming in the Southside neighborhood. Here’s how to participate:

1. Go to (account name is Free Fridge) on Venmo.
2. Choose your ticket amount. Tickers are $5, you can purchase unlimited tickets.
3. Enter ticket amount and indicate “raffle” in the comment section.
4. Wait for the winner to be announced. They will post on instagram when the winner is announced and comment on your venmo to let you know you won 🏆

Welcome to The Hop Handcrafted Ice Cream social media, folks! It's great to share this space with you, and I'm happy to take this opportunity to say a few things about our ice cream world.

What Ashley and I (hi, I'm Greg) are most proud of at The Hop are the ingredients in our ice cream. Every scoop tells a story. Follow our menu down the flavor list and you will weave in and out of the WNC community and see the delicious fruits of the collaborative spirit.

Our product philosophy is simple:
-Offer ice cream flavors that are accessible to as many people as possible, using extremely "clean" ingredients - no high-fructose corn syrup, food coloring, or artificial additives, with the exception of a couple of toppings.
-Make in-house whatever we can - vegan milks, jams, hot fudge, waffle cones, whipped cream, cookies, brownies, etc.
-Boost the local community whenever possible - farmers, makers, fellow local businesses.

Our business ethos:
-Provide happiness and safe spaces for teens, families, and really everyone who enters our shops, Hopsters included.
-Support youth literacy and organizations that are devoted to creating equitable opportunities for kids of all ages.
-Create a foundation that encourages the most positive impact for people on both sides of the counter.

We strive to implement the above with transparency, mindfulness, and gratitude in hopes that the small moments we help create can be a bright spot in someone's day.

Much Love,
Greg

Absolutely love this collaboration with Pop Bubble Tea 博 and Chai Pani!

We are pleased to introduce to you , chef/owner of Restaurant Group and our inspiration for Poppy’s Asian Tour: India! We are so grateful and honored to work with him on creating Parsi Rose Milk, which is available all month at both Pop Bubble Tea and Chai Pani in downtown Asheville.

15 years ago Chef Meherwan Irani opened Chai Pani with his wife and business partner, Molly - . It was the bottom of the great recession, but they had a crystal clear vision of what Chai Pani could be: They’d serve street food and home-cooked meals — the most underrepresented Indian foods in Western culture — by way of the unparalleled hospitality modeled to Meherwan as a child in his parents’ bed & breakfast. This has now extended to other his ventures such as Botiwalla & Spicewalla.

Meherwan Irani’s restaurants have since been recognized as sparking a revolution in Indian cuisine in America, gracing the ranks of many “best of” lists including The New York Times list of “America’s Favorite Restaurants” (2021), Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurants,” Thrillist’s “Best Indian Restaurants in America,” and Eater’s “The South’s 38 Essential Restaurants.”

In his own words:
“Chai Pani’s mission and growth is driven by a vision that one day Indian cuisine will be as approachable and accessible as Italian or Mexican cuisine in America. Food is an essential bridge for cultures to understand each other. That’s what drives me to do this work, and why it’s so awesome to be a part of collaborations like this one – bringing Indian flavors to a Taiwanese tea shop!”

Roasted Nectarine Ice Cream is released today, 8/9 at all locations! A dairy and vegan small batch of this flavor, made from a delicious puree of halved, seasoned, and roasted Lee's One Fortune Farm nectarines, will be on the menu while supplies last.

You can also find pints and half pints of Roasted Nectarine Ice Cream at the Lee’s One Fortune Farm booth at the following ASAP - Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project markets…

“Maia Toll is a real life Professor Sprout.” Drop in for Magic, Books, Bubble Tea, and Ice Cream with this Saturday, August 10th from 2-4pm at and at 640 Merrimon Ave! This meet & greet and book signing celebrates the release of her brand new middle grade book, The Night School for Young Mystics!

will be on-site during with copies, PLUS anyone who purchases a copy of The Night School for Young Mystics during the signing will also receive a FREE Wild Wisdom temporary tattoo!

More about The Night School for Young Mystics: Five Fabulous Field Trips into Moonlight and Magic…
The magic of the Night now made thrilling for a middle-grade mystic: Learn the basics about magic, divination, spells, rituals, and more in this enchanting and practical guidebook for middle grade mystics by award-winning author Maia Toll.

This event in the Young Readers Series presented by The Hop Ice Cream and Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe is free and open to the public.

Many thanks to the team for stopping by for some and ! For those who are sad that the@ashevillecitysc season is over, the next wave of highly-competitive soccer in Asheville is just getting started! Screenshot the and schedules in our story!

Many thanks to Tiana Kennel and the Asheville Citizen Times for raising the question: does Asheville need its own Ice Cream Trail? 🧐

Does Asheville need an Ice Cream Trail? Here's our 'unofficial' guide to summer sweetness Asheville doesn't have an Ice Cream Trail, like Hendersonville does, so here is the Citizen Times' unofficial guide to Asheville ice cream spots.

$1 OFF ALL DESSERTS today only! August 4th is National Friendship Day and at all locations we will be offering this sharable special, which applies to all dairy and vegan Banana Splits & Brownie Delights & Cookie Supremes.

Cookie Supreme was created for today only and features 2 Scoops of Ice Cream, 3 Toppings, a warm Hop-made Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie (or vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie), Whipped Cream and Cherry. Available dairy and vegan but only while supplies last. Again, only available on 8/4. Contains Gluten*

Brownie Delight consists of a warm Hop-made Brownie, 2 Scoops of Ice Cream, 2 Toppings, Whipped Cream and Cherry. Available dairy and vegan/gluten-free

Banana Split is 3 Scoops of Ice Cream, 3 Toppings, Whipped Cream and Cherry over a halved whole banana.

Grab your besties and enjoy!

Set up with handcrafted dairy and vegan ice cream at today and tomorrow for !!!

For those Espresso and Ice Cream lovers out there... Thanks to Cooperative Coffee Shop and Cooperative Coffee Roasters for the collaboration!

🍨 AFFOGATO AUGUST 🍨

Summer is in full swing and we are excited to announce a couple of limited time, very special, seasonal menu items: affogatos and nitro floats!!

What is an affogato? It’s an effortless-and-utterly-satisfying Italian dessert that consists of a scoop of ice cream lovingly drowned in a shot of espresso. It’s rich and creamy, and it is one of our favorite summer treats. ☀️❤️😎

And a cold brew nitro float? For this, we pull a draft of nitro cold brew and add a scoop of ice cream!

These simple luxuries can be made with vegan or regular vanilla ice cream from our dear friends and neighbors , with any espresso on offer from (including decaf!).

We’re excited for you to try these, friends! Get ‘em while supplies last! ☕️🍨❤️

Join local author, Lauren Yero, at The Hop Ice Cream & Pop Bubble Tea 博 this Saturday, August 3rd, from 2-4pm for a meet & greet and book signing! We are excited to celebrate the paperback release of her YA novel, Under This Forgetful Sky. Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe will be on-site selling copies of the book :)

Lauren Yero is a Cuban American writer who was born in Florida and now lives in the mountains of western North Carolina. Her desire to connect more deeply with her Cuban roots led her to study and work throughout the Spanish-speaking world—including Chile, where she drew inspiration for her debut novel, Under This Forgetful Sky. In addition to writing, she works as a teacher and shares a small homestead with her husband, two kids, two pups, ten chickens, five geese, two ducks, and a couple hundred thousand honeybees.

Under This Forgetful Sky
This “heartbreaking and heartfelt” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) star-crossed love story follows two teens in a starkly unequal future world who are struggling to find their places.

Rainbows and Lee’s Peach Ice Cream together in West Asheville 🍑🌈🍦

For those wondering, Southern Comfort Ice Cream (peaches cooked in bourbon) will return to The Hop(s) Friday, August 23.

Today is the last day to bid on the Sugar Hollow Solar silent auction fundraiser for MountainTrue, which includes a create your own ice cream with us!!! Link to bid is in the comments :)

This august we’re celebrating 14 revolutions around the sun!

These 14 years of helping WNC work towards a renewable future would not have been possible without the support of our community. That’s why we’re celebrating by giving back! We’re holding a silent auction from July 1st to August 1st with a chance to win 3 local prizes! All proceeds from this silent auction will directly benefit our nonprofit partner; MountainTrue.

☀️1 Sugar Hollow Solar Basket (Valued at $150)
⛰️1 MountainTrue basket (Valued at $150)
🍦1 Custom Hop Ice Cream Making Experience (Valued at $300)

The ice cream flavor you help create will not only go home with you, but will also be served at our birthday celebration at Hickory Nut Gap!

Enter today by visiting https://www.sugarhollowsolar.com/shauction

Happy International Day of Friendship, folks! We hope you can take a moment to think about or share a cone with those amazing people in your life that encourage you to be the best version of yourself, who appreciate you for who you are, and who are always there for you🫶

Much Love,
Greg

A portion of all Ice Cream sales at The Hop West go to benefit and their education programming aiming to create opportunities for students in Asheville! Pictured are Lee’s Peach and Cookie Party Ice Cream :)

Hoppin' Poppin' Pop-up at The Hop & Pop

Today, July 28th from 1-5pm at 640 Merrimon Ave!

🌀
ART, BUBBLE TEA, ICE CREAM! What more could you want? FACE PAINTING?! We got that, too! COOL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP COMMUNITY AND PLAY OUTSIDE?! We’ve got those, too and MORE!
🌀
Caravan Art Bazaar Lineup:
Guest Artists: BaboLulu Crafts (https://www.instagram.com/babolulucrafts/) , Corona Fine Art (https://www.instagram.com/coronafineart/) , Jungle Branch (https://www.instagram.com/junglebranch/) , Hiraeth Diaries (https://www.instagram.com/hiraethdiaries/) , Maia Mehndi (https://www.instagram.com/maia_mehndi)
🌀
Ghost Artists: Eye Felt That (https://www.instagram.com/eye_felt_that/) , House of Arulu (https://www.instagram.com/houseofarulu/) , Kate Johnson (https://www.instagram.com/illumikate/) , Jonnie Munleon (https://www.instagram.com/its_me_jonnie/) , Liberation Tools (https://www.instagram.com/liberation_tools/)
🌀
Guest Orgs: Across The Sea Foundation (https://acrosstheseabipoc.org/)
🌀
Ghost Orgs: Soul & Soil Project (https://www.soulandsoilproject.org/) , Southside Community Farm (https://southsidecommunitygarden.org/)
🌀
Caravan Art Bazaar (https://www.caravanartbazaar.org/) is a collective of local BIPOC artists and organizations focused on art, community, and the great outdoors.
🌀
JOIN US!

Much Love,

Greg

Caravan Art Bazaar Click here for an update from The Hop Ice Cream Cafe!

What a lovely night for Shindig on the Green!

With Shindig on the Green and the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival tonight I wanted to share a recent poem that was sent to me by one of the Folk Heritage Committee members. The poem was written by a recent attendee, Bonnie Ross, who hopes it brings a smile to your faces - it certainly did to ours :)

Shindig on the Green
by Bonnie Ross

In the park, where day meets night,
Shindig on the Green, a pure delight.
Mountain music fills the air,
Melodies that banish care.

Carolina summer, hot and bright,
Yields to evening's gentle light.
Humidity begins to fade,
A cooling breeze serenades.

Children dance with joyous glee,
Their laughter ringing, wild and free.
Climbing trees with daring grace,
Smiles of wonder on each face.

The scent of BBQ, rich and sweet,
Mingles with the grass beneath our feet.
Vendors share their savory fare,
A feast that fills the evening air.

Fresh ice cream, sweet cream so divine,
Locally made, a taste so fine.
We savor each delicious bite,
As day surrenders to the night.

The sun dips low, a fiery hue,
Colors blend, both bold and true.
Music plays, the fiddles sing,
Shindig on the Green, a Carolina fling.

Appalachian cloggers take the stage,
Their stomping feet set the rhythm's gauge.
In sync with tunes both fast and bright,
Their dance ignites the summer night.

Warmth of day, cool of night,
Blend together, pure delight.
In this park, where joy is found,
Hearts are lifted by each sound.

Mountain tunes and children's cheer,
Barbecue and ice cream near.
A perfect evening, memories made,
As summer's heat begins to fade.

‘Twas the night before Yuletide in July, when all through The Hop,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mop.
Cones were fully stocked with the utmost care,
For the ice cream lovers that soon would be there.

The kids were all nestled, snug in their homes,
While visions of gingerbread danced in their domes.
But I in my apron, with my scoop at my side,
I had readied myself for my delivery ride.

When out in Asheville, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the counter to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the Blue Ridge, all covered in light,
Gave a luster of midday to objects at night.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But The Hop Ice Cream van, all festively geared.

With a driver so merry and quick on his feet,
I knew in a moment it was an ice cream elf’s treat.
More rapid than eagles, the flavors they came,
As he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now, Gingerbread Cake! And now, Milk & Cookies!
On, Peppermint Stick, both vegan and dairy!
Into The Hop(s), to the dip cabinets fall,
Make the customers merry, not one, but them all!”

He sprang to his van, to me gave a high five,
And away he cruised with a festive goodbye.
Then I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Happy Yuletide in July, and to all a good night!”

And when it’s time to scoop on this glorious day,
Peppermint Stick, Milk & Cookies, and Gingerbread Cake
Are the flavors we hope fill hearts with cheer
To all here in Asheville, those far and those near.

***

A small batch of Peppermint Stick (dairy and vegan), Gingerbread Cake, and Milk & Cookies Ice Cream will be available at all locations starting today. As with all of our small batch releases they will be on the menu while supplies last :)