Fro-yo girl here. After attending the grand opening of Golden Spoon in Tustin, the city where it was founded, I felt inspired to look at the history of froyo in Tustin. There are currently four froyo shops in Tustin: two Yogurtland locations, the new Golden Spoon, and Joghurt, and five that have closed. Interestingly, Tustin has never had a Menchie’s, Tutti Frutti, or Red Mango.
Tustin, known as the City of the Trees, is in Orange County and currently has a population of nearly 80,000. It is a smaller city, with an area of 11.08 square miles. It was known for the Marine Corps Air Station, MCAS. MCAS closed in 1999 and the area is now known as Tustin Legacy. The average household income in Tustin is $139,477 and the median age is 36.2 years.
Tustin is also where Golden Spoon began. In 1980, Jeff Barnes acquired a health food store in Tustin called Yogurt and Things. A year later, he decided to focus on frozen yogurt. The name Golden Spoon was adopted in 1983.
Current Froyo Shops
- Golden Spoon, 1090 Irvine Blvd, opened in April 2024. The counter-serve froyo shop offers ten froyo flavors a day and toppings.
- Joghurt, 17395 17th St # C, is in Tustin’s French Quarter. The self-serve froyo shop opened in 2009 when the froyo was $0.30/oz, the same price as Yogurtland in Tustin. Today, it’s cheaper than Yogurtland.
- Yogurtland, 15090 Kensington Park Dr #410, opened in 2017 at The Village at Tustin Legacy. It has a newer, more mature interior design with light wood replacing the older green and white square tiles. There are 16 self-serve froyo flavors a day.
- Yogurtland,13842 Newport Ave, was the first self-serve froyo shop in Tustin when it opened in a small strip mall in 2008. While the space is smaller, the shop does offer 16 froyo flavors a day. It was $0.30/oz in 2008 and $0.74/oz today.
Closed Froyo Shops
- Go Bananaz, 1084 Irvine Blvd, was a family-owned self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2009 and closed in 2019. It had a Hawaiian tropical theme. They offered 16 froyo flavors a day.
- Golden Spoon, 528 E 1st St, Ste A, was a counter-serve froyo shop. I’m not sure when it was open, but due to the lack of information, it was probably before 2008.
- iYogurt Café, 664 El Camino Real, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2009. The last review was in 2010.
- Le Yogourt, 14001 Newport Ave Ste A, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2009. It was only $0.30/oz, but reviewers preferred Yogurtland (which was also $0.30/oz). Le Yogourt closed in 2011.
- Pinkberry, 2883 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782, opened in The District in 2008 and closed in 2016.
Still Open But Longer Serves Froyo
- Costco, 2700 Park Ave, served froyo at the snack bar but switched to soft serve ice cream in 2020.
- Costco, 2655 El Camino Real, also served froyo at the snack bar.
Did I miss any froyo shops in Tustin? Let me know if I did.
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.
Source: Yelp,
Fro-yo girl here. Chino, a city in San Bernardino County, has a population of 92,290. It was once known for its dairy farms and is now more industrial/commercial and densely populated with a suburban feel. Fifty-four percent of the population identifies as Hispanic/Latino. It’s interesting that while neighboring Chino Hills is more affluent, Chino Hills only has one froyo shop left, Yogurtland, while Chino has three remaining: It’s Yogurt, Joghurt, and Yogurtland.
The first froyo shop that opened in Chino was Penguin’s Place, which opened in 1987 at Chino Town Square. I’m not sure when it closed but it was open for at least 10 years. Another “old school” froyo shop, Golden Spoon was the next to open. Golden Spoon closed in 2013. Joghurt was the first self-serve froyo shop to open in Chino in 2008.
Froyo Shops Open in Chino
- It’s Yogurt, 12877 Mountain Ave, is a charming, mom & pop independent self-serve froyo shop that first opened in 2015. I went once and found it to be very clean with friendly service. They've added acai bowls, smoothies, snow ice, and milk tea. They were closed for renovations recently.
- Joghurt, 4110 Edison Ave Ste 101, is a self-serve local chain with a few locations in the area. Joghurt opened in Chino in March 2008.
- Yogurtland, 12073 Central Ave, first opened in 2015.
Still Open But No Longer Serves Froyo
Pam’s Doughnuts & Yogurt, 4726 Riverside Dr # C, must have served froyo at some point but I couldn’t determine when. They no longer serve froyo but they have ice cream.
Froyo Shops that Closed
- Golden Spoon, 4013 Grand Ave D, closed in 2013.
- Penguin’s Place, 5525 Philadelphia St Ste D, opened in 1987 in Chino Town Square and I'm not sure when it closed (a long time ago).
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, 1002 W Covina Pkwy, opened in 2009: The first Yogurtland in West Covina is across the street from Plaza West Covina. I’ve been there a few times and haven’t had any issues. They actually moved from 1000 W Covina Pkwy.
- Yogurtland, 2500 S Azusa Ave, opened in 2015 at Island Plaza. I visited once and it was messier than the other Yogurtland West Covina location.
- Menchie’s, 245 N Barranca Ave, Ste 14, opened in 2011. I went once and the froyo was too icy. They have 14 self-serve froyo flavors a day.
- Yummy Yogurt, 112 Plaza Dr Spc 4592 – opened during the pandemic inside Plaza West Covina. It’s a kiosk on the first floor with 10 self-serve froyo flavors a day.
Froyo shops that closed:
- Joghurt, 3660 Nogales St, Ste B, from 2009-2019, was a self-serve froyo shop that also sold boba drinks.
- TCBY, 603 Plaza Dr., unknown dates – I’ve seen the listing for a TCBY inside West Covina Fashion Plaza, the indoor mall. I looked for TCBY at the mall and did not find it. TCBY is not listed in the mall directory. Foursquare says it’s closed. Yelp has one review from 2015.
- Tutti Frutti, 112 Plaza Dr., from 2010 – unknown closing date. Tutti Frutti was a kiosk on the 2nd floor of Plaza West Covina. It closed but I’m not sure when.
- Yogen Fruz, Westfield West Covina Mall 1474 Plaza Dr., from 2009-2012. Reviews were mostly favorable. People liked Yogen Fruz’s thicker mix-in style yogurt but some found it pricey.
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.
