Baskin-Robbins Looking for Space in Downtown Decatur

After a Baskin-Robbins top executive scooped some ice cream to City of Decatur Fire Department at Station No. 2 this week, his next stop was the center of town.

Former Decaturite Bill Mitchell, now vice president of Baskin-Robbins’ U.S. operations, said the chain was looking for space in City of Decatur. He added that the chain of 6,400 stores often co-locates with a Dunkin’ Donuts.

And that’s just one possibility. The other is a stand-alone ice cream shop. While it's anyone's guess, which space Mitchell will take, there's several sites to choose from, including the former B&L Laboratories, and store space near .

“We’re going to look for space,” he said, after dishing out some ice cream to serve local firefighters.

Mitchell was in town as part of the chain’s worldwide promotion of the 31 Cent Scoop Night and a $100,000 donation to the National Fallen Firefighters Association on Wednesday.

Lyn Menne, City of Decatur assistant city manager for community and economic development, said she did not meet with Mitchell but has plans to discuss opportunities with him next week.

City of Decatur used to be home to a Baskin-Robbins, but it has long since closed.

And other chains have come and gone, including a Cold Stone Creamery, which closed as part of the chain's national store closures of the last three to four years. A Jake's ice cream store along Church moved by the courthouse, before closing, like many of its locations.

If Baskin-Robbins were to move in, there will be competition for the small businesses that do scoop the frozen goodies, including Greene’s Fine Foods and The Yogurt Tap. Urban Grounds, which operates in Avondale, also serves ice cream.

“City of Decatur is a great town and a great area,” Mitchell said. “We do want to be in Decatur and we’ll keep looking.”