Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop opens today in downtown Lawrence, and owner Jason Harris figures it’s a can’t-miss operation for a left-leaning college town.

“It fits,” said Harris, who also owns a shop in Overland Park. “Ben & Jerry’s has a three-part mission statement – product, economic and social – and the progressive, social values fit in with the Lawrence community.”

The shop, at 818 Mass., covers 2,000 square feet and has 25 employees. It will serve Ben & Jerry’s ice cream alongside Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee.

Ben & Jerry’s has about 120 such scoop shop franchises in the United States.