I scream, you scream…yes, we all scream for ice cream. But the opening of the Issaquah Highlands Ben & Jerry’s this week silenced the screams and replaced them with sounds of tongues lapping the cold dairy dessert.

Mark Mullet, Issaquah city council member and franchise owner, got the idea to open a Ben & Jerry’s back in 2007 when he first heard about a movie theater coming to the Highlands. While the economic climate and other considerations have put the theater on hold, Mullet felt this was the right time to open the scoop shop.

“The brand was a natural fit for Issaquah,” he said, speaking on why he chose Ben & Jerry’s. The Vermont-based company, established in 1978, has always operated in a socially and economically sustainable way, which appealed to Mullet and he knows it will appeal to Eastside residents.

Renee Alldridge and her son Sterling were all smiles within 15 minutes after opening. “I like their notice about allergies,” she said. Sterling can’t eat gluten or dairy or many other foods, so she was able to bring special cones for him and get him a scoop of non-dairy sorbet. He didn’t seemed to notice difference as he quickly licked the sorbet to keep it from melting down his fingers.

The new ice cream shop is located at 1011 NE High Street, suite 103, and seats up to 38 people.