Pinkberry’s 200th Store Opens in SF

Fro-yo girl here. I just returned from the grand opening of Pinkberry Union Square, the first Pinkberry in SF. I’m perplexed by the lack of publicity for the event...I didn’t get a Pinkberry Groupie email or see a Pinkberry tweet. But Union Square is open FINALLY (as of a few minutes before 5 PM)..

They’re giving away free fro-yo (small size with any toppings you want) till 10 PM tonight. There’s a big tent out front with tables and a DJ. I saw them roll out the famous pink carpet. The employees are really friendly. There must have been 30 of them. They’re squeezed in tight behind the counter. It’s really loud inside. I recommend getting those luxe toppings today. If you don’t want to wait in line, they had free samples for passerbys (you don’t have to be in line).

Fro-yo flavors:
* Original: a great balance of tangy and sweet, creamy yet refreshing, very smooth, sweet aftertaste
* Strawberry: very nice, tangy, sweet, smooth
* Mango
* Watermelon
* Chocolate
* Peanut butter

Tomorrow is the first official day. Welcome to SF, Pinkberry!

Fro-yo prices (without toppings): Cone/Mini ($2.95)/ S ($3.50)/ M ($4.50)/ L ($6.50).

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

* PINKBERRY UNION SQUARE: 170 O’FARRELL ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Pinkberry 2nd San Jose Location Grand Opening News

Fro-yo girl here. I know many of you are diehard Pinkberry fans, so I wanted to share their newest press release with you. It contains exciting news for Northern California. The second San Jose Pinkberry will have its grand opening event on March 3. They'll roll out the pink carpet between 6 - 10 PM with free fro-yo, a special guest DJ and more. I know it's on my calendar.

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

* PINKBERRY PUEBLO PLAZA: 1110 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA

And here's the press release:

More Swirly Goodness Comes to Northern California on March 3

SAN JOSE, Calif (February 22, 2011) – Pinkberry, the number one tart frozen yogurt brand, will open its second San Jose location on March 3, 2011 at 1110 Blossom Hill Road – in the Pueblo Plaza shopping center. The Pinkberry Pueblo Plaza grand opening event will be held on Thursday, March 3. Consumers who stop by anytime from 6:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. on Thursday will enjoy free Pinkberry, musical entertainment and a special guest DJ appearance by Evan Taubenfeld, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne.

Pinkberry is premium frozen yogurt made with real non-fat yogurt and nonfat milk that is rBST hormone free. Pinkberry is made with only the highest quality ingredients and is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, resulting in a refreshing, clean and craveable taste.

The Pueblo Plaza location will be will be serving Pinkberry’s six distinctive flavors: the signature Original flavor, a sweet and tangy yogurt with a refreshing finish; Pomegranate, a bold and tangy flavor made with 100 percent California-grown pure pomegranate juice; Coconut, smooth and subtle, made with real coconut puree for a fresh and cool finish; a rich, indulgent Chocolate; Mango, a fruity and light flavor made with authentic Alphonso mango puree for a soothing finish; and a Featured Flavor that rotates seasonally, such as the recent Blood Orange, paired with succulent blood orange pieces, fresh blood orange purée and a crisp waffle cookie.

Customers can personalize every yogurt experience at Pinkberry with any combination of delicious toppings. At Pinkberry, uncompromising quality is paramount and the toppings bar is no exception. Each topping is selected with the highest quality standards, whether it’s Grade-A fresh fruit that is hand-cut daily in-store, organic gummy bears with no high fructose corn-syrup, all natural honey almond granola, 100% pure Pomegranate juice, or rich, premium Belgian chocolate shavings. Toppings are thoughtfully selected as a unique and delicious complement to the various Pinkberry frozen yogurt flavors.

In addition to frozen yogurt and toppings for immediate consumption, Pinkberry also offers Pinkberry Take Home, which is 25 ounces of Pinkberry, swirled-to-order and packed on ice to ensure your Swirly Goodness will get home safely to your freezer. Pinkberry also offers Fruit Parfaits, Smoothies, and Fresh Fruit Bowls as fresh and satiating choices for any time of day.

The new Pueblo Plaza store incorporates modern furnishings and clean lines into an inviting, lively atmosphere that mirrors Pinkberry store concepts across the country and established in Southern California and New York. San Jose residents are invited to experience its uniquely refreshing combination of tastes, textures and flavors as Pinkberry swirls daily in Pueblo Plaza from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Local fans who want up-to-the minute news and discount offers should sign up to be a Pinkberry Groupie at www.pinkberry.com/groupie. The brand can also be found on Facebook and at Twitter @pinkberryswirl.

About Pinkberry
Pinkberry reinvented the frozen yogurt category when it launched in West Hollywood, CA, in January 2005. Today it is the most talked about, best tasting, premium frozen yogurt, made with high-quality fresh ingredients. From store design to exceptional customer service to irresistible flavors and toppings, Pinkberry provides a social experience that indulges the senses. Pinkberry’s distinctive flavors are expertly crafted to complement its daily fresh-cut fruit and premium toppings that offer an irresistibly tangy, incomparably clean and refreshing taste. Pinkberry is certified by the National Yogurt Association and carries the Live & Active Cultures Seal. Get a taste of Swirly Goodness by visiting www.pinkberry.com.

Pinkberry Sunnyvale Opening on September 25

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry is coming to Sunnyvale! The official store announcement says, "Pinkberry will be open for business at 122 East El Camino Real as of Saturday, September 25! Sunnyvale will be serving Pinkberry’s six distinctive flavors (Original, Pomegranate, Coconut, Chocolate, Mango and a Featured Flavor that rotates seasonally), along with new Swirly Whip, Fruit Bowl and Take-Home offerings!" The grand opening pink carpet event will be Saturday, September 25. Yes, there will be free Pinkberry and a special guest DJ appearance. Stay tuned in case I get additional details.

I haven't tried the Swirly Whip yet. It's an exclusive whipped cream topping.

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

Pinkberry Palo Alto Opens, Overheard New Location News

Fro-yo girl here. I'm liking Pinkberry much more now that they added some new toppings, created some new fro-yo flavors and added the unlimited toppings policy. Adding the mini size and the satisfaction guaranteed “if your masterpiece does not inspire chilly bliss let us swirl you a new one" are customer friendly moves too.

I always thought that Stanford Shopping Center would be the perfect location for them. About a year ago, Orange Tree was supposed to open a location there (someone told me they saw a sign, I never saw the sign but it was listed on the Orange Tree website). I'm glad that didn't open because their frozen yogurt just isn't good and not at the level of Stanford Shopping Center (the best outdoor shopping center in the Bay Area).



I missed opening day (yesterday) but they were still handing out free fro-yo with as many toppings as you asked for today (free till closing time today). While I was there, I noticed they were taking pictures of some Pinkberry execs behind the counter. The Pinkberry execs occupied the two tables in the shop and they were talking loudly about their new location in Westfield San Francisco Center. I wanted to eavesdrop longer but there wasn't any place to sit. Anyway, they said it would be by the food court and Bristol Farms. Westfield is going to remodel part of the lower level. Sur La Table will be moving in along with Pinkberry.

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

* PINKBERRY STANFORD: Stanford Shopping Center, 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA

Picture of Future Pinkberry at Stanford Shopping Center

Fro-yo girl here. I don't know when it will open but Pinkberry seems to be close to opening at the Stanford Shopping Center. The location faces El Camino and is close to Macy's for Men, Bloomingdale's, and La Belle Day Spa.

They put a help wanted ad on Craig's List three weeks ago, so expect an opening soon: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/fbh/1453131150.html

They aren't listed in the mall directory yet: http://www.simon.com/mall/malldirectory.aspx?id=841

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

Inside the Pinkberry Santana Row VIP Event

Fro-yo girl here. Many thanks to Pinkberry for tonight’s VIP event! It’s the nicest fro-yo launch party I’ve seen. For those of you who weren’t there on the pink carpet, guests at the invitation only event were treated to unlimited fro-yo and toppings, a complimentary signature Pinkberry tote bag with a Pinkberry Santana Row t-shirt inside, wine, and music.

The event occurred in a tent set up right next to the actual Pinkberry store. The tent was larger than the store so it could accommodate more fro-yo VIPs. I’m not sure who was on the guest list but I suspect that most were food bloggers and members of the media. Most attendees were dressed casually but there were a couple of guys in suits. Photographers were on hand to take pictures of people and their fro-yo (how glamorous).

Pinkberry employees flitted in between the store and the tent carrying fro-yo on trays in all three fro-yo flavors: Pomegranate, Original and Green Tea. It was my first time trying their pomegranate fro-yo and it was my favorite flavor – the tangiest one.

The music was loud so it wasn’t too easy to carry on a conversation but the free fro-yo kept me occupied. The toppings bar in the center of the tent included bowls of Cap’n Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, chocolate chips, yogurt chips, granola, etc. on a sea of pink satin. They didn’t have any mochi balls. I can’t really complain because the free fro-yo kept coming during the two hour event – and the gift bag was an unexpected surprise.

Apparently there were some celebrities at the event: The Used, Buckcherry, Joe Manganiello, NOFX, Rancid and After Midnight Project. Unfortunately, I don't know how any of them look like! I looked them up. I definitely saw Joe Manganiello of One Tree Hill. He was behind the counter at the Pinkberry shop and he asked for mochi balls and pomegranate seeds for his fro-yo. And chocolate chips I think? I remember staring because mochi balls and pomegranate seeds are my favorite toppings.

The CEO of Pinkberry was also at the event. He’s not Korean! We saw him behind the counter of the Pinkberry shop. I had to confirm that they had mochi balls at the shop (they do - whew). Congrats to Pinkberry and best wishes for many years of swirly goodness.

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

Pinkberry Santana Row Opens on Saturday, 1/17

Just a quick update on Pinkberry news and events.

* Soft opening of the store is this Saturday (1/17)
* Private grand opening VIP events on Thursday (1/22)

Pink Carpet News: Pinkberry Grand Opening Event on 1/22

Fro-yo girl here with fresh news for Bay Area fro-yoholics. Pinkberry is rolling out the pink carpet for the grand opening of their first Northern California store on Thursday, Jan. 22nd. The invitation only event will feature complimentary fro-yo and a DJ. The event will be hosted by the CEO of Pinkberry, Ron Graves.

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

* PINKBERRY: Santana Row, 355 Olin Ave., San Jose, CA