History of Yogurt Creations, Largest Froyo Chain Central Coast of California

 

Yogurt Creations, Atascadero, 2009

Fro-yo girl here. John Bolton opened the first Yogurt Creations in Atascadero in 2003. At the time, it may have been the only froyo shop in Atascadero, a smaller Central Coast city with a population under 30,000, though there were froyo shops in San Luis Obispo and other cities along the Central Coast of California. The next Yogurt Creations opened in Arroyo Grande, followed by San Luis Obispo. By 2014, there were seven Yogurt Creations branches along the Central Coast. 

Ownership changed in late 2019 and then again in January 2020. The new owners also purchased Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt in Oxnard, California and converted it into a Yogurt Creations. Yogurt Creations opened in Oxnard in late 2020 and closed later in 2020. They also announced plans to open in Pismo Beach, though I don’t think that location ever opened.

The SBA PPP loan of $191,450.00 in January 2021 kept Yogurt Creations afloat for a few months. In 2021, four locations closed. The last store, Santa Maria, closed in January 2022. The Santa Maria store was in the news because when it closed, the owners still owed employees outstanding wages. This was probably the case at other locations, e.g., Arroyo Grande, where the owners were evicted.

I remember visiting the Atascadero, downtown SLO, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, and Paso Robles locations. 

Yogurt Creations Locations (listed by opening date, from oldest to newest)

• Atascadero, 7341 El Camino Real, was the original location. The store opened in 2003 and closed 2021.
• Arroyo Grande, 1540 E Grand Ave, opened in 2008. The owners were evicted in September 2021.
• San Luis Obispo, 1075 Court St # 130, opened in the downtown area in 2008 and closed in 2017.
• Santa Maria, 2415 S Broadway, opened in 2008 and closed in January 2022. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony in January 2020 when ownership changed. 
• Paso Robles, 104 Niblick Rd, opened in 2010 and closed in 2021. 
• Lompoc, 1620 N H St, opened in 2011 and closed in 2021.
• San Luis Obispo at Cal Poly, 1 Grand Ave Bldg 65, RM 121, opened in 2013 on campus in the Julian A. McPhee University Union I’m not sure when it closed. 
• A mobile unit (trailer) may have opened in 2019 and was based in Atascadero.
• Oxnard, 2819 Saviers Rd, took over the Tutti Frutti space during 2020. Tutti Frutti closed due to the coronavirus. Yogurt Creations was only open for a few months in 2020 before closing for good.
• Pismo Beach was announced but never opened

Santa Maria and Lompoc no longer have any froyo shops. RIP, Yogurt Creations.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland Day of Joy New Giant Yellow Spoons

Fro-yo girl here. I’m back from the first National Day of Joy celebration at Yogurtland. Guests received a free yellow giant Yogurtland spoon with a $10 minimum purchase of food and beverages, in-store only, while supplies last. Limit one per transaction. Some stores are limiting the giant spoon to one per person.

I asked around and it seems like each Yogurtland store received a box of giant yellow spoons. A box contains 100 spoons.

The spoon is a foot long and says Yogurtland on the handle. The back of the spoon is blank.

Comfort Keepers, a company that provides in-home care for seniors and other adults, created the National Day of Joy in 2019. The day celebrates finding joy in everyday moments.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Froyo Void in Central Coast: Santa Maria

 

Ozzie's Premium Yogurt in Santa Maria, Source: Yelp

Fro-yo girl here. Santa Maria, California no longer has a froyo shop, the last one closed sometime in 2022. It was either Menchie’s or Yogurt Creations.

Santa Maria on California’s Central Coast has a population of 109,711 (2021) and is known for its wineries and BBQ. It’s the largest city, in terms of population, in Santa Barbara County. Yes, it’s even bigger than Santa Barbara.

TNT’s was the oldest froyo shop in Santa Maria that we could find. They claim to have been established in 1977 but ownership changed a few times and the 1977 date might not refer to Santa Maria (they had multiple locations).

Former Froyo Shops

• Crème De La Ice Cream, 1102 E Clark Ave Ste 110, took over the TNT’s space in 2019. They offered hand-crafted ice cream and soft serve froyo. The shop closed in 2021.
• Euro Yogurt Café, 319 Town Center West, became Woody’s Yogurt Café but I’m not sure when (a long time ago).
• Menchie’s, 2202 S Bradley Rd #1348, aka known as Menchie’s Crossroads at Santa Maria, first opened in December 2014. The last review was in 2022. The last Instagram post was made in February 2019 but it seems to have closed in 2022.
• Ozzie’s Premium Yogurt & Gelato, 3420 Orcutt Rd Ste 106, was in business from 2014 – 2017. Ozzie’s offered eighteen self-serve flavors a day, the most in Santa Maria. They also served boba tea, smoothies, and frappes.
• TNT’s, 1102 E Clark Ave Ste 110, had several locations along the Central Coast. TNT’s offered counter-serve ice cream, froyo, sundaes, smoothies, and shakes. According to the business profile, TNT’s was established in 1977 but I’m unsure of the original location. This location became Crème De La Ice Cream in 2019.
• TNT’s, 560 E Betteravia Rd was first reviewed in 2010 and the last review in 2013.
• Woody’s Yogurt Café, 319 Town Center West, is now Woody’s Boba Drinks. They probably stopped serving froyo around 2012. There was a Woody’s Yogurt in Buellton as well (now closed).
• Yogurt Creations, 2415 S Broadway, seems to have opened in 2008 and closed in January 2022. Yogurt Creations was the largest Central Coast self-serve froyo chain. There was a ribbon cutting in January 2020, due to a change in ownership. When Yogurt Creations closed, they owed employees unpaid wages.

Did I miss any Santa Maria froyo shops? Let me know.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

SweetFrog American Red Cross Spoons

 

Fro-yo girl here. SweetFrog partnered with American Red Cross to promote water safety recently. The promotion included:

• SweetFrog American Red Cross water safety spoons. These were handed out on May 15, National Water Safety Day. The green spoons feature Scoop dressed as a lifeguard. The handle of the spoon says American Red Cross. The spoons are color-changing. They turn blue!
• Guests who donate to American Red Cross will receive SweetFrog coupons. SweetFrog will match the donations, up to $10,000. They’re accepting donations through August 15.
• As part of the American Red Cross June Swim Challenge, participants will receive Red Cross and sweetFrog branded merchandise
• Water safety nights hosted by SweetFrog at select locations
• Water safety at home activities on the SweetFrog website

Thank you, Zelda and her sister, for getting the spoons for me!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Save the Date: National Day of Joy at Yogurtland

Fro-yo girl here. Save the date, Wednesday, June 28, for the first National Day of Joy celebration at Yogurtland. Guests will get a free yellow giant Yogurtland spoon with a $10 minimum purchase, in-store only. This offer is good while supplies last. It’s the first time they’ve had a giant yellow Yogurtland spoon.

I hadn’t heard of the National Day of Joy before, but it’s a real thing. Comfort Keepers, a company that provides in-home care for seniors and other adults, created the National Day of Joy in 2019. The day celebrates finding joy in everyday moments. For some, getting a new giant spoon is a reason to rejoice.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland Summer Coupons

Fro-yo girl here. I was excited to receive Yogurtland summer coupons in the mail with the weekly coupons and sales flyers that we get on Tuesdays). There are nine coupons, three for June, three for July, and three for August. There are six buy one, get one free coupons and three $2 off coupons. The coupons are specific to the location closest to my house.

The coupons do not mention or show the summer flavors, summer toppings, summer spoons, summer cups, the online exclusive cup, or the National Day of Joy celebration.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland Coming Soon to East Pasadena

Fro-yo girl here. This one caught me by surprise; Yogurtland is opening in East Pasadena. The address is 259 Sierra Madre Villa Ave., Unit 103, Pasadena, CA 91107. It’s right next to Pasadena Sandwich Company and across the street from Bed Bath and Beyond (which is closing). The Yogurtland sign is up! The windows are covered.

There is a Yogurtland in Pasadena on Lake Ave. and there was one in Old Town Pasadena on Colorado Blvd. 

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Father’s Day 2023 Froyo Specials

Fro-yo girl here. Fathers who love froyo, Happy Froyo Father's Day! If you're looking for worldwide Father's Day froyo specials, you've found the most comprehensive list. 

I’ll keep updating the list until sometime on Father’s Day. Shops are listed in alphabetical order:

• Bilii Shop (The Woodlands, TX): Dads get 20% off pints & cups on 6/17 & 6/18, show IG offer post @bilii_shop
• BLK 513 (Philippines): Spend at least P500 and get a free limited edition Tea Amo chocolate bar for dad from now until June 30
• Chiller Bee Yogurt (TX): Dads eat free on 6/18
• Chilly Billy's (MN): Dads get 10% on 6/18
• Cuppa Yo (Buckeye, AZ): Bring your dad for BOGO free froyo on 6/18
• Fat Yeti Froyo (Port Angeles, WA): Bring your dad in on Father’s Day for a free froyo (up to 10 oz)
• Froglanders (CA): Dads get 10% off on 6/18
• Frogurt Company (Czech Republic): Buy one froyo and get dad's for free on 6/18
• Frost (Kailua, HI): Buy one, get one 50% on 6/18
• Heladio Frozen Yogurt (Mexico): Buy 2 medium froyos and get a free cone for dad on 6/18
• Hoopla Frozen Yogurt (St. Joseph, MI): Dads get $1 off on 6/18
• Lemonberry (Cleveland, OH): Bring dad in on 6/18 for a free sundae with the purchase of another sundae
• Mamaca Froyo (Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines): Dads get a free barquillos topping on a large froyo on 6/18
• Milk & Honey (Marianna, FL): Dads eat free on 6/18 - free latte or free 8 oz yogurt
• Orange Leaf (Lake Worth, TX): $6 fill up cups for dads on 6/18
• Pinkberry (Philippines): Enjoy 1 large Pinkberry with toppings and 1 small plain froyo for P385 from June 16 – 18
• Suzy’s Swirl (IL): Dads receive a free mini froyo cup on Father’s Day, June 18
• SweetFrog (Hickory, NC): Dads enjoy a free cup on 6/18 ($5 max value)
• Sweetspot (Longview, WA): Dads get a free small cup on 6/18 with the purchase of another family member
• TCBY (US): Dads get 6 oz of free froyo on Father’s Day
• Yogurt Mountain (US): Buy one froyo, get one free when you scan the Yogurt Mountain app at checkout from 6/16 - 6/18
• VeriBerry (Penticton, BC, Canada): 10% off all purchases on 6/18
• Yo Mama Frozen Yogurt (Wauwatosa, WI): Dads enjoy free froyo on 6/18
• Yogaert (Flagstaff, AZ): 50% off froyo for dads on 6/18
• Yogurtini (Legends, Plaza, Overland Park, Shoal Creek, KS): Free froyo for dads on Father's Day with purchase, up to $5 value, show IG post at checkout to redeem. The IG accounts are @yogurtiniplaza, @yogurtinioverlandpark, @yogurtinishoalcreekkc
• Yummy Spoon (Chula Vista, CA): Dads enjoy 20% off on 6/18

Most shops announce their Father’s Day promotions the day before or on Father’s Day, so check back for updates.

Also, some countries recognize Father's Day on other dates. I only include the Father's Day specials on or near June 18, 2023.

For Father’s Day froyo images, check out the Father’s Day Froyo Pinterest board. https://www.pinterest.com/froyogirl/fathers-day-froyo/

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New Summer Sticker Sheets at Yogurtland

 

Fro-yo girl here. I just got the new sticker sheets from Yogurtland. I think there’s only one version and it comes with 13 stickers the stickers include a froyo cup, a Yogurtland spoon, Yogurtland logo, fruit, pink lemonade, and a gummy bear. Ask for the stickers soon. They’re available while supplies last and they’re free!

I noticed that the stickers include pineapples and mango and their new flavor is Pineapple Mango sorbet. Based on the stickers, perhaps the next flavor is pink watermelon lemonade?

Remember how Yogurtland gave out sticker sheets last summer? All of the sticker sheets have a sticker that say Life is Gummy at Yogurtland. This set also has a Hello Summer sticker.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Pinkberry Beverly Hills Reopens After Months Long Closure

Fro-yo girl here. Back in March, I wrote about how the franchisee of Pinkberry Beverly Hills was evicted from the property. The shop was closed for a few months. Everything was still inside when I looked inside the shop. The shop reopened on May 14, under new ownership.

They have four machines, so they should be able to offer eight flavors at a time but they only had five available. In addition to froyo, they have smoothies. For toppings, they had fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, pineapple), popping boba, nuts, chocolate crisps, mochi, cereal, cookie dough, brownies, cheesecake, sprinkles, coconut, yogurt chips, granola, and luxe toppings. The luxe toppings cost $1.50 extra.

Froyo prices: Small $5.50/ Medium $7/ Large $8.50/ Cone $5. A small froyo with toppings is $7.

They redid the floors and plan to add more signs soon.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Pinkberry, 240 S Beverly Dr #A, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yoga-urt Introduces Naturally Sweetened Pistachio Passion

 

Fro-yo girl here. Great news, Yoga-urt just introduced a naturally sweetened added version of their Pistachio Passion flavor at their Glendale shop. Pistachio Passion has been one of my favorite flavors at Yoga-urt since the first time I tried it in 2018. The flavor is so pistachio forward, with the texture of ground pistachios. It’s made with Santa Barbara pistachios, added to Yoga-urt’s cashew and almond milk base. The naturally sweetened Pistachio Passion froyo was thick, dense, and rich like the regular Pistachio Passion. The date flavor does change Pistachio Passion a bit. It’s still yummy but I slightly prefer the regular Pistachio Passion because organic sugar has a more neutral flavor.

Naturally sweetened Yoga-urt flavors are sweetened with organic dates and organic white grape juice concentrate. Like all Yoga-urt flavors, they’re organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, all-natural, and kosher.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* YOGA-URT: 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New Yogurtland Summer Flavor: Pineapple Mango Sorbet, Online Exclusive Cup, New Topping, New Cup

 

Fro-yo girl here. It feels like summer at Yogurtland with a new sorbet flavor, new cup design, new online exclusive cup, and a new topping.

Pineapple Mango sorbet: Yogurtland describes the sorbet as a “delicious & refreshing pairing of sweet & juicy pineapple and ripe mango.” Inspired by National Mango Month, Pineapple Mango sorbet is nonfat, gluten-free, vitamin C fortified and made with real pineapple and real mango. The flavor was very sweet, more mango than pineapple. There was no tang from the pineapple. There was something about it that tasted like canned fruit. Not a fan. Recommended toppings: Chamoy, sour gummies.

Yogurtland also has a new topping, 3D fruit gummies, inspired by the new Pineapple Mango sorbet. The gummies are firm and very chewy. The flavors include pineapple, strawberries, apples, and grapes. The gummies are fruit-shaped.

The Beach Paradise Cup by Yogurtland is an online exclusive, made with Pineapple Mango sorbet, 3D fruit gummies, mangoes, and strawberries. Order it from the Yogurtland website or through the Yogurtland app.

And there’s a new cup design featuring monstera!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New June Flavors at Menchie’s, New Cup, and Double Smiles

 

Fro-yo girl here. This June, Menchie’s is featuring two flavors, Vegan Cake Batter and Ruby Gillman’s Vegan Blue Raspberry Sorbet.

Vegan Cake Batter soft serve is made with almond milk and contains no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. It’s lowfat and made with real cake mix. I had a chance to try it in December 2022 when it was a test flavor at Menchie’s Encino. I’m not a fan of the cake batter flavor in general. Vegan cake batter soft serve didn’t taste like cake batter but reminded me of egg nog and butterscotch. Not a fan. Recommended toppings: Whipped cream, Nilla Wafers, chopped almonds.

Ruby Gillman’s Vegan Blue Raspberry sorbet is named after the character in an upcoming Dreamworks movie called Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken. Ruby looks a bit like one of the Trolls in another Dreamworks movie. Menchie’s has had Blue Raspberry sorbet a couple of times. It tasted good – like blue raspberry ICEEs or a blue raspberry Jolly Rancher candy. The flavor is nonfat and gluten-free. Recommended toppings: Sour Patch Kids and Nerds,

There’s a new cup design featuring the Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken movie. The cup is blue and depicts four Kraken characters. The movie comes out on June 30th.

There are two Double Smiles Days this month. Scan the Menchie’s app on June 13 & 14 to earn double smiles.

P.S. The new Menchie’s Mellow spoons didn’t last long.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

New Yogurtland Summer Spoons

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland new spoon alert! Yogurtland has new summer spoons. The spoons are dark yellow. A pair of sunglasses is at the end of the spoon handle and a Yogurtland logo can be seen in each lens. I have a feeling that these spoons are only available for a limited time. 

Yogurtland also has a new summer flavor, Pineapple Mango sorbet. I haven’t found it yet but I’ll report back.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Mrs. Chips Cookies in Sherman Oaks Adds Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. Cookie shops are having a moment, thanks to all the buzz surrounding Crumbl Cookies. In six years, Crumbl Cookies has grown to 700 stores. Other new cookie shops are opening as well, including Mrs. Chips Cookies, which opened in March 2023, after several years as a home-based business.

Mrs. Chips Cookies sells fresh cookies, baked in small batches, coffee, other beverages, frozen yogurt, and ice cream sandwiches from a pink takeout window in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. Cookies are $3.25 each with discounts if you buy 6 or more.

I was there for the froyo, of course, but I also bought cookies. There’s one flavor of froyo, vanilla, and two toppings: sprinkles and chocolate chips. A froyo cone is only $3.25 and toppings, $0.20 cents. It’s a small cone but I like that – it leaves room for a cookie too. There are no plans to carry other froyo flavors. Why aren’t chopped cookies a topping?

Vanilla froyo: thick, rich, and very creamy. It reminded me of the soft serve that Mc Donald’s or Dairy Queen served, something similar to a frozen custard.

The cookies are smaller but thick and very moist. My favorite was the snickerdoodle. Park in the back but it’s tricky to get there (it’s right by the freeway entrance).

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* MRS. CHIP’S COOKIES: 4533 Sepulveda Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.