Ben & Jerry's Opens New Store on Fore Street in Old Port

New Owners, New Look for Popular Ice Cream Shop

Portland, Maine - A new Ben & Jerry's has opened in the heart of Portland's Old Port at 425 Fore Street.

The franchise for the popular ice cream eatery was recently purchased by Mark Loring and Joanna and Cory Morrissey. The new Fore Street location is totally new from the former Ben & Jerry's on upper Exchange Street, with all new equipment, new tables and chairs, and outdoor seating.

Loring, who also owns Walter's CafŽ nearby on Exchange Street and Joe's Boathouse at Spring Point Marina in South Portland, said the new location has been great for tourists and people who work in the Old Port with the added convenience of a parking garage entrance.

"It's been a very busy opening," said Loring. "Partly due to the new seating arrangements, and of course, partly due to the Ben & Jerry's good name."

The Morrissey's are no strangers to the neighborhood either; founding nearby Java Joe's on Exchange Street, as well as opening a second site at the Portland Public Market. "We like the socially and environmentally responsible aspect of serving Ben & Jerry's ice cream. It's not only delicious, you know it was made with as much care for the cows, farmers and the planet as it was for the final product," said Joanna Morrissey.

The store, which also does off-site catering and ice cream cakes for birthdays and special events, is open seven days a week. Hours are from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. This new store offers 22 flavors in the scoop cases at any one time, which alternates between the 48 total Ben & Jerry's creative flavors. The most favorite so far, Cory Morrissey said, is still the famous New York Super Fudge Chunk, a combination of chocolate ice cream blended with chunks of pure dark and white chocolate, chocolate covered almonds and pecans. Cherry Garcia remains a favorite as well, and a new flavor, Everything but the..., is gaining ground.

Ben & Jerry's, founded in 1978 in a converted garage in Burlington, Vermont by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, has a long history of public service and philanthropy. On Friday, for example, the new Ben & Jerry's donated more than 700 samples of free ice cream at a United Way event in Tommy's Park in the Old Port on September 29.

Loring, a resident of South Portland, said he is excited about the new energy this well-known franchise brings with its new design and central location. His partners, Cory and Joanna Morrissey, live in Cape Elizabeth.

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