Fremont Froyo History

Yoswirl, 2008

Fro-yo girl here. I’m in Fremont several times a year, so I’ve tried about every froyo place there, past and present. The froyo scene was much more vibrant in the past. It peaked around 2010. Only two froyo shops are still standing in 2020: Yogurtland and Menchie’s. It seemed like Yogurt De Lite (4378 Thornton Ave.) would stay open forever, but it finally closed last year. Yalla Mediterranean stopped serving froyo last year at all their locations, including the one in Fremont. Sad.

Yogurt De Lite opened decades ago, I’m not sure when. I’m pretty sure that the ownership changed a few times. Honestly, it wasn’t very good, though maybe it used to be better. It was close to a few schools though and there weren’t many other options in the area to get a snack or treat.

Fro-ggie (1554 Washington Blvd.) which opened in March 2008, was the first of the new froyo shops in Fremont. Independently owned, it was modeled after Pinkberry offering 4 counter-serve tart froyo flavors a day. They were even one of the few shops that served soy froyo. I liked it! Frog-gie closed in 2011.

A few months later in May 2008, Fremont got its first self-serve froyo shop, Yoswirl in Warm Springs (43773 Boscell Rd.). I was at the grand opening and there was a huge crowd. The froyo was definitely on the icy side. Yoswirl closed in 2012.

Back in 2010, Fremont was a froyo hot spot. At the time, I wrote:

“Fremont is now home to Fro-ggie, Yoswirl, So Frais Frozen Yogurt Cafe, Cafe Verona, Yogurtouille, Sweet Orchid, Yogurtastic, Pink Swirl, and Yogurt Bees. Old school Yogurt Delite is still around. I get the feeling more fro-yo is on the way.”

More shops opened, including Freshberry (a franchise, later it became Pure Yum) with cupcakes and froyo, Fusion Mix, Yogurt Mantra, Menchie’s and Yogurtland. The dates the shop existed appear in parentheses.

• FreshBerry, 2010-2014
• Yogurt Mantra, 2012-2015
• Fusion Mix, 2014-2019
• Pure Yum, 2014-2016

Yogurtland and Menchie’s both opened during the summer of 2013 and both are on Mowry Ave. While the Menchie's and Yogurtland were late arrivals, they have survived longer than most of the independent froyo shops.

• Menchie’s 5030 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA 94538
• Yogurtland, 4069 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA 94538

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.

2011 the Fro-yo Year in Review

Fro-yo girl here. As 2011 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at fro-yo events and trends and check out which of my fro-yo wishes came true.

Salty, sweet fro-yo flavors gain favor. This was the year when fro-yo flavors ventured into the land of salty and sweet, with peanut butter and jelly, salted caramel and maple bacon donut.

Fro-yo on the move. The rise of mobile fro-yo trucks was a major trend in 2011, with NYC and Chicago leading the way.

Fro-yo prices rise. The fro-yo price wars of 2009-2010 have ended and even Yogurtland raised its prices to 33 cents and up from 30 cents an ounce. Prices have gone up at many fro-yo shops.

Fro-yo bubble bursts in the Bay Area. Fewer fro-yo shops are opening as the number of closures rises. It’s always sad to see a fro-yo shop close but the ones that I will truly miss are Jubili (the first place I tried tart fro-yo) in SF, Yogurt Harmony in Berkeley, Tartini in Cupertino, and Fro-ggie in Fremont, CA.

Notable fro-yo openings in the Bay Area. Two locations of the Italian fro-yo chain, Yogorino, brought a richer style of fro-yo to SF. Jamba Juice’s Whirln’s fro-yo reached the Bay Area.

My fro-yo wishes mostly came true. I did get more signature fro-yo spoons. Yogurtland came out with Sanrio yogurt spoons. We did get a mobile fro-yo truck in the Bay Area though it was non-dairy. I did have a Greek fro-yo. However, I didn’t have any macarons with fro-yo.

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

Mochi Update: Invasion of the Rainbow Colored Mochi

Fro-yo girl here. I first blogged about my favorite topping, mochi balls, in October 2008 and it’s time for an update because the Korean brand that is used by most tart fro-yo shops, Dae Doo Food Co., very recently introduced a colored version of mochi (bingsoo rice cake). The new colored mochi balls aren’t flavored. They taste the same as the white version. The mochi balls come in pink, green, yellow and blue. They’ve been spotted at Fro-ggie and Tuttimelon.

Someone in the US should seriously manufacture mochi balls for fro-yo shops (and make some flavored versions too). I worry that Dae Doo Food Co. won’t be able to keep up with mochi demand.

Since my October posting, several other fro-yo shops started offering homemade mochi balls and they deserve to be mentioned here: Hello Desserts, Yogurtastic, and Pink Swirl. I wish I could say more but I haven’t had tried the homemade mochi at Hello Desserts or Yogurtastic. The Pink Swirl variety comes from a Japanese bakery in Los Angeles, Fugetsu-do: http://www.fugetsu-do.com/buymochi.htm

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

* HELLO DESSERTS: 1698 Hostetter Rd, San Jose, CA
* YOGURTASTIC: 3924 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA
* PINK SWIRL: 43423 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA
* FRO-GGIE: 1554 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
* TUTTIMELON SAN MATEO: 165 E. 4th Ave., San Mateo, CA
* TUTTIMELON POLK: 2125 Polk St, San Francisco

Fro-Yo Girl in the News

Fro-yo girl here. I recently was interviewed for a news story on fro-yo. The story will be featured on MCTV, the TV news program for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward. I’m told that Moreau students are frequent visitors to YoSwirl in Fremont. During the interview, I provided short reviews of local fro-yo shops along with tips and recommendations. Fro-ggie is my top pick in the area (Hayward, Newark, Fremont, Union City). It isn’t self-serve but I actually prefer having someone else swirl the fro-yo.

http://www.moreaucatholic.org/s/768/index.aspx?sid=768&gid=1&pgid=569

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

* FRO-GGIE: 1554 Washington Blvd., Fremont, CA

Fro-ggie Coupon Good Till 12/31/08, Soy Fro-yo

Here's a link to a site with a coupon for Fro-ggie. Get one free topping, good till the end of the year:

http://www.ci.fremont.ca.us/Business/ShopFremont/Coupons.htm

Fro-ggie is one of the only places in the Bay Area that offers soy fro-yo. Fraiche in Palo Alto also has soy fro-yo. I'm surprised that soy fro-yo is so rare since lactose intolerance is common and soy milk has gained popularity among the same segment of consumers who are likely to favor fro-yo. There are several brands of soy frozen yogurt in the supermarket frozen foods section. I'd love to see a fro-yo shop open that only offered soy-based fro-yo. Soy Yo? Soyriffic?

* FROGGIE: 1554 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
* FRAICHE: 644 Emerson, Suite 110, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Pomegranate Seeds are Back!

Fro-yo girl here. When it comes to fresh fruit toppings, pomegranate seeds are my favorite. I love the crunch of the seed portion and the refreshing tartness of the flesh. Peeling one takes forever, so the seeds also feel like a special treat.

Pomegranates also are considered a superfood, rich in anti-oxidiants and a good source of of vitamin B5, potassium, vitamin C. Consumption may reduce the risk of heart disease, lower systolic blood pressure and promote prostate health in men.

Pomegranates are typically in season from October through January and I’ve been anxiously awaiting their return. The season is so short so I’ll have to get pomegranate seeds whenever I see them.

Today at Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt in Palo Alto, I saw a large bowl stacked with pomegranates. They’re back!!!! Pomegranate seeds were recently spotted at Fro-ggie in Fremont as well (thanks Carol L.) and Yogurt Harmony in Berkeley (thanks Karen W.). Keep an eye out for them at other fro-yo shops. I’ve had pomegranate seeds with my fro-yo at Red Mango, Pinkberry, Jubili, Tuttimelon, and Blondie’s Pizza. I’ve had pomegranate tart fro-yo at Tuttimelon (Irving St., SF and Alameda), Blush (pomegranate-dragonfruit), Papamingo, and Nubi (raspberry pomegranate). Tuttimelon has the best tasting pom tart fro-yo and it’s extra tart. Yum!

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


* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
* FRO-GGIE: 1554 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
* YOGURT HARMONY: 2259 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
* TUTTIMELON: 2150 Irving St, San Francisco, CA, 94122