Winter may have brought some freezing temperatures western Sydney’s way, but it’s never too cold for ice cream.
And with a Development Application (DA) recently lodged with City of Parramatta, locals could soon have their pick of flavours with a new Ben and Jerry’s store in the local area.
If approved, the proposal would see the former travel agency Best and Less Travel in shop four at 188 Church Street be transformed into a new ice cream store from Ben and Jerry’s. The company is seeking DA approval to change the 78.29 m2 retail space back to a Class 6 Food Retail.
With 577 shops across 38 different countries, the chain has operated for almost 40 years. Along with serving ice cream, Ben and Jerry’s also seeks to “make the world a better place” by supporting social and economic justice for historically marginalised communities, human rights and the environment.
“The shop function will consist of serving ice creams, premade in the USA,” the Heritage Impact Statement said.
“All food handling such as ice cream cones, chocolate brownies, cookies, and milkshake facilities will be prepared in accordance with the national food codes, relating to the licensed food premises.”
If successful, the shop will operate Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 12am. The opening of the store will look to create 20 additional jobs, with around five employees on site at any time.
The document said the chain will look to create internal fit out works for the store, as well as new signage.
Since Ben and Jerry’s are looking to open the store in Parramatta’s Murrays Building, which is identified as a heritage item, all works must comply with the specific site criteria established by the NSW Heritage Branch of the Department of Planning and Environment.
“The proposed interior fitout with new signage elements to the existing shopfront will have no historical or environmental impact because there are no alterations and additions to heritage items,” the statement reads.
“[It] will be fully compliant and in accordance with City of Parramatta Council’s requirements and NSW Heritage Branch of the Department of Planning and Environment conditions.”
The statement said the proposed design is “sympathetic” within the context of its neighbouring heritage sites. It also said it is within the constraints of council’s specific requirements and signage zone that have been in place with the previous tenant, which will help to maintain the character, quality, value of the setting and streetscape.
“The original architectural features and detailing, the trims and painted facade that characterises the period of the development will not be touched in any shape or form,” it said.
The store hopes to open this year.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.