Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea to Take Over the Menchie’s Glendale, CA Space

 

Fro-yo girl here. When Menchie’s closed in Glendale, CA last October, it wasn’t long before the space was leased. The new tenant is Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea, the bubble tea chain from Taiwan. They’re known for their fresh fruit teas, made with Taiwanese tea leaves. They use real ingredients, including organic cane sugar and milk. No powdered drinks. The nearest one was on Valley Blvd. in San Gabriel. Happy to see a new one closer to home. Expect Yi Fang to open very soon. I saw that they were training employees already.

Yi Fang is also taking over The Alley’s space in Pasadena.

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

* YI FANG: 251 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Menchie’s Glendale Space Has Been Leased

Fro-yo girl here. That was quick. Menchie’s closed in Glendale, California in early October after 4.5 years. They removed the soft serve machines. The sign in the window says the space has been leased. You can still see the Menchie’s chalkboard and counters inside. Wonder what it will become?

MENCHIE’S GLENDALE: 251 N Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Menchie’s Closes in Glendale, CA

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s has closed in Glendale, California. I’m in the area all the time and the outdoor Menchie’s signs were up until maybe a week ago? The exterior signs and the froyo machines have been removed.

Yelp says the location is temporarily closed and scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2022. Google marks it as permanently closed. Since they removed the signs and the location is no longer listed on the Menchie’s website, I’m pretty sure that it’s permanently closed. The last four reviewers on Yelp gave Menchie’s Glendale one star. People complained about the limited flavors, limited texture and terrible texture. Sadly, the same things can be said about the Menchie’s in South Pasadena.

Menchie’s Glendale opened in February 2017.

Meanwhile, Menchie’s Burbank/Toluca Lake is temporarily closed. They’re staying in the same plaza and should reopen in the spring of 2022.

MENCHIE’S GLENDALE: 251 N Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Menchie’s Meltdown in Los Angeles

 

Fro-yo girl here. Last year was a very challenging year for froyo and probably more so for the self-serve froyo shops. Most froyo shops are self-serve too. I noticed froyo shops in Southern California cutting back on hours, the number of flavors offered, and the number of toppings too. Eight Menchie’s locations and seven Yogurtland locations in California closed in 2020.

The Menchie’s locations that closed in California in 2020 were located in Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Calabasas, Florence-Firestone (South Central Los Angeles), Fullerton, San Jose, and South El Monte. The outlook still seems grim for 2021. Make sure your local Menchie’s is open before showing up for their National Frozen Yogurt Day celebration on February 2 (FYI, buy one, get one free on February 2).

Menchie’s Glendale, Santa Monica (Montana Ave.), and South Pasadena are currently only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yes, three days a week. And they have flat rate cups and full service. Menchie’s Berkeley, Burbank, Redondo Beach, Westchester, Santa Monica Ocean Ave. and Universal Citywalk Hollywood are all temporarily closed. The Burbank location was a good one, so I hope to go there again one day.

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.

2020 Glendale, CA Froyo Roundup

Fro-yo girl here. Back in 2015, I visited every place in Glendale, CA that offered soft serve froyo and found six shops. I included Pressed Juicery, even though its plant-based soft serve, Freeze, is not technically frozen yogurt. That was five years ago. Since that 2015 post, the three of the six shops have closed: My Yummy Yogurt, Pinkberry, and Yoppi Yogurt. One of the Haagen Dazs locations, the one inside Glendale Galleria, no longer offers froyo. Ice ‘N’ Cream inside the Glendale Galleria was open in 2015, but it wasn’t serving froyo at that time. They were serving soft serve ice cream in 2015. The last time I checked, they were serving froyo. 

I'm so sad that Pinkberry was replaced by a medical office called Forward. The Americana location was my favorite Pinkberry in the area.

Since 2015, three new froyo shops have opened in Glendale, and Ice ‘N’ Cream, inside the Glendale Galleria, started offering froyo.

Yoga-urt, which I’ve written about many times, opened in July 2015 in Kenneth Village. It’s the best place to get froyo in Glendale, hands down. Glendale is lucky to have such an innovative small business. Yoga-urt is LA’s first all organic plant-based froyo shop, with handcrafted, probiotic, all-natural soft serve. The froyo is also kosher, soy-free, and gluten-free. Toppings and cones are gluten-free and soy-free as well. Their soft serve tastes so natural and fresh and it’s thick and dense. It’s not self-serve but that’s a good thing because servings are generous and pretty. They just added breakfast and the gluten-free, soy-free, vegan waffles are so good! You can get a waffle topped with froyo! Breakfast is served Wednesday - Sunday from 9 AM - 1 PM.

Menchie’s opened in downtown Glendale in February 2017. I was there for the grand opening and I still swing by occasionally. It’s a good location, better than most in the area, but they’re slow to get the new flavors of the month. There are 12 self-serve flavors a day, plus froyo cakes.

Go Greek Yogurt, which offered self-serve Greek froyo and Greek fresh yogurt, opened inside the Glendale Galleria in 2018 and closed in 2019. Another froyo concept, Prinkipia, is taking over their kiosk though. Prinkipia is a chain that is primarily mall-based. Some locations have boba drinks and no froyo. Others are have froyo and no drinks. It looks like the Glendale location will carry froyo. 

Ice ‘N’ Cream is an old school snack stand inside Glendale Galleria that opened in 1988. The menu includes fresh juices, gelato, Thrifty Ice Cream, fruit cup, bionicos, smoothies, slushies, nachos, frozen bananas, ICEE, boba milk tea, etc. It’s has a Mexican fruit/dessert/snack shop feel. They had 6 types of froyo and sorbet during my visit. I was disappointed in my froyo and wouldn’t go back. 

Pressed Juicery hasn’t changed that much, though they added new flavors of Freeze and developed another frozen dessert with a coconut cream and almond base called Frozen. Frozen is scoopable. 

Current places to get froyo (or plant-based soft serve) in Glendale:

• HAAGEN DAZS: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
• ICE ‘N’ CREAM: 100 W Broadway, Glendale, CA 91210
• MENCHIE’S: 251 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203
• PRESSED JUICERY: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
• YOGA-URT: 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201

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.

Menchie’s Glendale Grand Opening

Fro-yo girl here. The Menchie’s Glendale grand opening week started today with a t-shirt giveaway for the first 25 guests, free froyo from 12 PM – 2 PM, and a balloon artist. I didn’t see Menchie, unfortunately, but I did see a hand-written note from Menchie’s CEO, Amit K. Aww.

The flavors they had today were the same as the ones I saw on opening day, Tuesday. I pick up a Kiwi collectible spoon. Many people were in line for the free froyo and there were many happy faces, of course.

Here are some pictures that I took today. I might go back a few more times during the grand opening week.

Be sure to follow Menchie’s Glendale on Facebook and Instagram (@menchiessmile).

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

* MENCHIE’S GLENDALE: 251 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Menchie’s Opens in Glendale, CA

Fro-yo girl here. I’m back from Glendale, CA where Menchie’s just opened its doors for the first time. Today was the soft opening. The first cup sold looked like a strawberry cheesecake creation (it wasn’t mine).

The new downtown Glendale location has 12 self-serve flavors a day, toppings (fruit, popping boba, candy, cookies, brownies, nuts, cereal), and sauces for 51 cents an ounce. They also have froyo cakes and Menchie’s merchandise.

I met with the owner, Mevis, who was inspired to open the shop by her husband’s passion for frozen yogurt. She also liked Menchie’s unique emphasis on the customer and the experience. Her favorite Menchie’s flavor is Nutella which was on tap today, along with a bottle of Nutella. Her husband’s favorite flavor is Original Tart.

The week long grand opening celebration starts on Saturday, February 25. The doors will open at 11 AM. The first 25 guests will receive a free t-shirt. The froyo is free from 12 PM – 2 PM. Menchie will be there on Saturday. Mevis says they’ll have their amazing Blackberry Burst froyo for the grand opening. The limited edition collectible Kiwi spoons are also in.

Join Menchie and the City of Glendale for the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 5 PM.

Be sure to follow Menchie’s Glendale on Facebook and Instagram (@menchiessmile).

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

* MENCHIE’S GLENDALE: 251 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Menchie’s Glendale Grand Opening Week Starts February 25

Fro-yo girl here. It’s going to be one eventful week at the new Menchie’s in Glendale, CA (251 N Brand Blvd.). The week long grand opening celebration starts on Saturday, February 25. The doors will open at 11 AM. The first 25 guests will receive a free t-shirt. The froyo is free from 12 PM – 2 PM.

Join Menchie and the City of Glendale for the ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 5 PM.

Check the flyer for the schedule of events and be sure to follow Menchie’s Glendale on Facebook and Instagram (@menchiessmile).

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

* MENCHIE’S GLENDALE: 251 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Future Froyo Shop Pictures: Menchie’s Glendale

Fro-yo girl here. Here’s a quick update on Menchie’s Glendale. The door was open the other day. There are six cutouts in the wall, so they’re going to have 12 flavors a day.

The Menchie’s signs are finally in the windows and including a permanent one on the side of the building. The toppings bar and the round register area are in place. It looks like they will be ready to open very soon. Follow Menchie’s Glendale on Facebook and Instagram, @MenchiesSmile. Like their FB page for exclusive grand opening specials. They’re also hiring.

* MENCHIE’S: 251 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203

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.

Future Froyo Shop Picture: Menchie’s Glendale

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been watching this space for months. It’s a new looking building in downtown Glendale that has space for a few businesses. The Menchie’s signs are finally in the windows. The yoga studio next door has opened.

Menchie’s signed a ten year lease. I’ll keep watching the space (I always pass it on the way to Glendale Galleria/the Americana).

* MENCHIE’S: 251 N Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91203

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.