Partial Self-Serve Returns, Indoor Mall Locations Reopen, Other Shops May Not Reopen?

Menchie's, Ocean Park, Santa Monica

Fro-yo girl here. On April 5, Los Angeles moved to the orange tier for COVID-19 restrictions. Under the orange tier, restaurants can offer 50% capacity for indoor dining. What does that mean for LA’s froyo shops? I’ve seen a few froyo shops in Los Angeles that were full service begin to offer partial self-serve again but technically, self-serve froyo is still not allowed in California. 

At most froyo places that I've been to that allow self-serve, gloves are provided. You can serve your own froyo but an employee adds the toppings. I was able to serve my own froyo and toppings at a few shops even during the height of the pandemic but most froyo shops adhered to the public health department's guidelines of not offering any self-serve. 

With so many froyo shops now offering partial self-serve, I thought it was allowed but it actually isn't yet. I have been cautious throughout the pandemic, but I would feel comfortable with self-serve froyo if customers and employees wore masks and gloves and hand sanitizer were provided. It doesn't feel fair that customers can dine indoors but they still can't serve their own froyo while wearing masks.

I haven’t seen a froyo shop that allows for indoor dining yet. But I got used to eating froyo in my car. You can eat inside a mall again, so froyo shops in indoor malls like Yogurtland Montebello and Yogurtland Century City have reopened. Yogurtand Cerritos is still “temporarily closed.” Will it ever reopen? Menchie’s on Ocean Park in Santa Monica looks like it just closed but it hasn’t been open for months. All the equipment is still inside and the signs are still up.

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.

Coronavirus First Anniversary: Update on Froyo Shops

Fro-yo girl here. On March 31, 2020, I provided an update on impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the froyo scene (e.g., scheduled events were postponed, hours of operation reduced, some shops chose to close temporarily, self-serve froyo was suspended for the most part). Now that a year has passed, it’s time for another update on the current state of frozen yogurt.

How has froyo changed during this time? Like other restaurants, froyo shops have transitioned to full service, takeout and delivery only, and contactless payments. They’ve added clear guards to protect the cashier and the toppings. Some of them have been putting toppings in small cups with lids. I’ve seen more of them offer pre-packed pints and quarts. Fewer new flavors have been introduced as very few shops offer samples now (due to safety concerns). Menchie’s and Yogurtland are closing more shops. Prices have gone up.

Things are better at the moment after a tough winter; the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths continue to decrease. Los Angeles County and a few other counties in Southern California moved from the most restrictive level, purple, to the red tier around March 16. The move to the red tier meant that indoor dining could resume at 25% capacity. The weather is warming up and it’s now spring time. I’ve seen a good number of customers at a few froyo shops in the area. Seasonal froyo shops have or are about to reopen. 

I’ve continued to visit different froyo shops and most have not returned to self-serve. A few offer self-serve; they provide gloves and require that you sanitize your hands first. For example, you can serve your own froyo at Yogurtland Pasadena and Menchie’s Eagle Rock.

I’ve seen a few froyo shops mention on social media that they offer indoor dining but I haven’t run into one of those yet (keeping in mind that we’ve only been in the red tier for a week). Most restaurants that I’ve been to are still offer takeout and delivery only.

Menchie’s Glendale and South Pasadena are open Friday-Sunday only. Menchie’s Redondo Beach, Westchester, and Santa Monica Ocean Park appear to have closed for good since they haven’t been open for months. Prinkipia cancelled plans to open at the Glendale Galleria.

Of the froyo shops that I mentioned on 3/30/20, all the shops on the list are still in business (yay!).

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 South Pasadena Switches to Full Service and Flat Rate Pricing (Other Menchie’s Are Doing It Too)

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s in South Pasadena, CA has been full service for awhile now, due to the coronavirus but now they no longer charge by weight. I was surprised to see their new format with fixed rate pricing and full service.

The options:

• Small: 2 flavors, 1 topping, $4.99
• Regular: 2 flavors, 2 toppings, $6.99
• Large: 2 flavors, 2 toppings, $9.99

I wonder why they’re restricting the number of toppings too. I wonder how many ounces you get. What if you don’t want any toppings? They seem to have fewer toppings choices now. It just seems so restrictive and unappealing for a place that was once about choice and self-service. If you could get your own yogurt and toppings, it would be fine but since you can’t, it’s just like the old days of froyo before self-serve when they charged per topping but worse, because those shops allowed you to get froyo without toppings.

Interestingly, other Menchie’s locations in Northeast Ohio and Erie, PA are offering flat rate pricing and full service. I heard Menchie's in Glendale, CA and Santa Monica, Montana Ave. are doing the same.

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.

21 Choices Pasadena Reopens, More Types of Vegan Bases on the Way?

Fro-yo girl here. Is it just me or does it seem like 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt has been closed a lot these past few years. The renovation of their old space on Colorado Blvd. took forever and then they moved into a brand new spot around the corner. Space NK, the beauty retailer, took over their old spot. Then they closed right before the safer at home order was issued. I think they closed on 3/16 and no updates were provided after 3/18, until they reopened on May 22.

They quietly reopened just in time for Memorial Day weekend. I visited to see if anything had changed. They’re making their non-dairy soft serve with housemade oat milk now. The employee had a face shield on and the yogurt and toppings are behind a shield as well. Mix ins are still available. Everyone who enters is required to wear a mask.

I tried their non-dairy oat milk soft serve for the first time, opting for Peanut Butter Coconut mixed with toffee chips. The toffee chips took over the flavor and made the pb and coconut seem mild, but the base was fairly creamy. It tasted pretty clean with a hint of oat flavor.

I hope the soy milk base will still be offered. I did see some soy milk in the fridge, but not much of it. It’s so hard to find soy-based soft serve/frozen yogurt. They also had cashew milk, almond milk, and macadamia milk in the fridge.

I’ve been going to Old Town Pasadena periodically during the safer at home order and many businesses remain closed, including restaurants and retailers. Only a handful are open for takeout, like True Food Kitchen, Motto Tea Café, and Starbucks. Some retailers are offering curbside pickup. Madewell is behind on rent. The food hall on Union and Fair Oaks is expanding and taking over the old Gap and Crate & Barrel spaces.

There hasn’t been much foot traffic in the area for months. It could be tough for that area for a long time if the crowds don’t return. 

P.S. 21 Choices just reopened in Claremont Village (Claremont, CA) as well.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 44 N Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105

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.

Free Froyo at Participating Yogurtland Locations This Week & Catering Discount

Fro-yo girl here. Some Yogurtland locations across the country (e.g., Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Texas, California) gave out free pre-packed mini froyo cups with any purchase this week. The promotion didn’t happen on the same day and not all locations participated. I went to Yogurtland Alhambra to get my free mini cup today.

Yogurtland Alhambra was closed for a few weeks, probably a month, and I hadn’t been there since early March, before the safer at home issue was ordered for Los Angeles. It’s full service now and they blocked access to the machines and have markings on the floor that tell you where to stand. The toppings bar is covered with plastic wrap. The free cup was about 6 ounces and they had plenty of flavors from which to choose. 

I still haven’t encountered the new flavor that was scheduled to come out in April, Orange Blossom White Peach light ice cream. The flavor finder says it’s not available in my area. One of the YL associates mentioned another new flavor on the horizon, chai tea.

Yogurtland has also been sending promo codes for ezCater orders on weekday deliveries through June 23 and promoting Froyo It Forward, as a way to thank everyday heroes and surprise loved ones. And Real Reward members get triple points on Thursdays in May. 

The codes are ONLINE10 for $10 off online catering orders of $50 or more and SPRING25 for $25 off online catering orders of $100 or more.

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.

Many Local Froyo Shops Have Reopened

Fro-yo girl here. The good news is that froyo shops around the world have started to reopen. In the US, it started in late April, since the stay at home order was set to expire on 4/30 in many parts of the country. In Los Angeles, which is still under the safer at home order, as some retail businesses, parks, and recreational facilities have reopened. The reopening of those businesses and facilities started around May 13. The safer at home order is expected to stay in effect until at least July for Los Angeles.

I’ve been venturing out for froyo and I haven’t encountered any shops that still allow self-serve. Self-service of unpackaged food is not allowed as of March 21 in California. It’s unclear when self-service will be allowed again. Signs must be posted by the entrance of each shop telling those with symptoms not to enter. Samples are not allowed. Everyone’s supposed to wear masks now when they are in public.

With the warmer weather, aka froyo weather, and the loosening of restrictions, I’ve noticed that many froyo shops have started to reopen. I’ve also noticed that the most popular day of the week to reopen is Friday with some shops are only open on weekends.

Menchie’s Eagle Rock and Yogurtland Alhambra reopened on Friday, May 15, the day the original safer at home order expired. 21 Choices in Pasadena remains closed and hasn’t provided any updates since closing on March 18. Their Claremont location is open and now offers online ordering. Yogurtland Downey reopened on Monday, May 11. Yogurtland Pasadena has reopened. At Yoga-urt, customers aren’t allowed inside the store. They place orders online or by phone. At Marcel's in South Africa, they take your temperature before you're allowed inside the shop.

In other states, some froyo shops have been allowed to open the dining area but at reduced capacity. These next few months are prime froyo season, so my fingers are crossed for a good one. I’m hoping that there’s a lot of pent up froyo demand out there. It seems pretty safe to get froyo these days.

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.

The New Normal Froyo Experience

Fro-yo girl here. Well, the stay at home order hasn’t been lifted yet in Los Angeles. I did just go to Yogurtland and Menchie’s, because froyo is essential. I hadn’t been to either for a few weeks and it was interesting to see that it’s no longer self-serve. The associate fills the cup with froyo and adds toppings for you. It worked well since I knew how many ounces I wanted but I did get more toppings than usual. Their scoops seem bigger than my scoops.

Yogurtland San Gabriel added plastic wrap that covers all the toppings from the side facing the dining area and installed a Plexiguard shield by the register. Oh, and they only had 10 flavors of froyo vs. the usual 16. Menchie’s Valley Village didn’t have all that but most of their toppings are always covered (they use plastic stackable containers for the dry toppings). They put chairs in front of the self-serve area to keep the public out and also marked where customers should stand to keep people 6 feet apart.

The last time I went to Yogurtland on March 19, I was still able to serve myself but they provided gloves for everyone. In early March, the experience was completely normal. It could be months before self-service returns???

What else has changed? I’ve been sharing examples of froyo shops that are showing their support through froyo donations and discounts for first responders and healthcare workers and those that are asking for help on GoFundMe and Indiegogo. Events and new promotions have been delayed since many froyo shops are closed. Most of the ones that are still open have reduced their hours and switched to full service, takeout and delivery only. I've seen delivery discounts and froyo family packs. Some shops have reopened but with added safety procedures in place. Restaurant employees now wear masks and gloves in California.

I like how TCBY, Menchie’s, Yogurtland, sweetFrog and others are providing free activities (coloring sheets, mazes) and Zoom backgrounds that remind people of froyo and how much they love froyo. Yogurtland even has a contest, #froyoflashback, where people share their fond memories of Yogurtland for a chance to win Yogurtland gift cards.

I know that I love froyo as much as ever and I’d like to think that absence will make the heart fonder for most froyo consumers.

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.

Help Froyo Shops on GoFundMe

Fro-yo girl here. As you know, many frozen yogurt shops have seen a drastic decline in revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some have started Go Fund Me online fundraising campaigns to ask for help. The following are all campaigns started by the shops, not campaigns created for them by Yelp and Go Fund Me.

Amer’s Deli/Yogurtrush, Ann Arbor, MI, @amersdeli

Amer’s Deli has been an Ann Arbor/ University of Michigan staple for 32 years. And yes, they have froyo. The owner is a U of M alum. Since business has fallen dramatically during the pandemic, Amer’s is looking to raise $28,000 to keep two locations open and to pay rent, utilities, liabilities and food distributors.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-amer039s-deli-covid19

Cloud 9 Yogurt House, San Diego, CA, @cloud9yogurthouse

Cloud 9 Yogurt House hopes to raise $2,500. Sales have fallen roughly 85% after the shelter-in-place order went into effect. The shop is currently closed until further notice. They will offer a gift certificate in the amount that you donate. They are also hoping that the GoFundMe campaign will allow them to quality for a grant from the Small Business Relief Initiative.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/cloud-nine-yogurt-house

Corner Cafe & Froyo, Murrieta, CA, @cornercafeandfroyo

Corner Cafe & Froyo is seeking your support to raise $5,000 to help them through this difficult time. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-your-local-froyo-shop

Forever Yogurt Andersonville, Chicago, IL, @froyo_on_clark

Forever Yogurt would like to raise $1,000 to help the business stay afloat. The donations will be shared as follows: 25% to three employees who are not working, 25% to neighborhood stores that were forced to shut down, and 50% to help Forever Yogurt stay open.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/forever-yogurt-andersonville

Melon Seed Deli & Frozen Yogurt, Tacoma, WA, @melonseeddeli

Melon Seed Deli is currently closed. They are seeking to raise $5,000 to help keep their business open and operating. Also, they'd like to qualify for GoFundMe's small business relief fund, which will match any donations if they can raise $500.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/melon-seed-deli

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, Pueblo, CO, @menchiespueblomall

Menchie's is currently closed. The funds raised would go to Menchie's employees who are currently out of work. The goal is to raise $10,000.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/8dc2s-virtual-tip-jar

Menchie's Westchase Town Center, Tampa, FL, @menchieswestchasefroyo

Menchie's WTC is currently closed. The goal of the $5,000 GoFundMe campaign is to raise funds for expenses, including rent, utilities, etc.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/menchie039s-westchase-town-center

Oodles Frozen Yogurt, Modesto, CA, @oodlesfroyo

Oodles is seeking $7,000 to help pay the operating expenses and reopen the shop when it is safe to do so. The shop is currently closed. The owner relies on the income generated from the shop.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/oodles-frozen-yogurt-modesto-small-business-relief

Serendipity Sweets, Erie, PA, @serendipitysweetserie

Serendipity Sweets is currently closed. A new business, they’re seeking $4,000 to help them make it through this difficult time and also to qualify for GoFundMe’s matching grant.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/serendipity-sweets-smallbusinessrelief

Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt, San Diego, CA, @sweetthingssd

Sweet Things is hoping to raise $30,000 to use towards reopening the shop. The shop is in a large convention hotel and relies heavily on the local and tourism industry. With Comic-Con 2020 canceled and the decline of tourism, their business has been greatly impacted.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sweet-things-team-reopening-fund

Yo Treats, Estacada, OR, @yotreatsfroyo

Yo Treats is hoping to raise $10,000. The shop has been closed since March 23 and the family that owns the business needs support to stay in business. While they've applied for federal loans, they haven't been able to get any. Their employees haven't received unemployment funds either. They need help to cover utilities, rent, payroll, etc.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/yo-treats-covid19-smallbusinessrelief

Yogi Topi, La Jolla, CA, @yogitopiyogurt

Yogi Topi is hoping to raise $5,000 goal for their employees. In return, they’ll send donors a 2 for 1 voucher for every dollar donated.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-support-our-yogi-topi-yogurt-employees 

Yogurt Craze, Parkland, FL, @yogurtcraze

Yogurt Craze is a small, family owned frozen yogurt shop that's been open almost 10 years. They closed the shop for safety reasons and are seeking community help to stay afloat. They hope to raise $10,000.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/yogurtcraze


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 Discounts & Donations for Essential Workers

Fro-yo girl here. Times are tough right now, with most of us stuck at home. Many froyo shops have closed and most that are still open have cut back their hours. I’ve seen some of the temporarily closed ones reopen, so that’s a good sign.

It’s also heart-warming to see froyo shops giving back to those in need or those who are helping others during this public health crisis. I wanted to share a few examples of froyo shops giving back to show my appreciation for the generosity and kindness of those involved. I’ll try to add to this list as I see more examples.

Discounts

• Aloha Yogurt (Tempe, AZ) is offering free treats to first responders when they show their ID/badge.
• Blitzer’s! Premium Frozen Yogurt (Murrieta & Menifee, CA) is giving $5 in Blitzer Bucks to healthcare workers, grocery or retail workers, EMS professionals, military personnel, and anyone else working on the front lines during the crisis. Send Blitzer’s! a direct message on Instagram, @blitzers.yogurt
• Downtown Yogurt (NJ, NY) offered free froyo for first responders on April 17, extended to happen every Friday from 3 PM - 6 PM
• Menchie’s Gateway (Springfield, OR) is offering a BOGO free deal to medical personnel and first responders from April 6 – April 12, 2020.
• Pinkberry (nationwide): On Thursdays during the month of April, Pinkberry is offering First Responders and Medical Personnel a special Thankful Thursday discount of 50% off any swirl. One per person per visit with a valid badge or ID.
• Swirls & Twirls (Oceanside, NY) offers a 20% discount to all police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, & EMS starting May 2nd
• U-Swirl (Waco, TX) offered 50% off for first responders and medical providers every Thursday with badge or valid ID
• Urban Yogurt (Shingle Springs, CA) is offering free froyo to first responders come in uniform or show a valid ID
• Yo-Chi (Australia) is giving healthcare & emergency service workers 50% when in uniform
• Yogli Mogli (Douglasville, GA) is offering a 50% discount to healthcare workers on Thursday, April 9 & Friday, April 10 with a hospital or work ID

Donations

• 16 Handles (NY) donated froyo to Mount Sinai hospitals
• 20 Degrees Frozen Yogurt Lounge (Cookeville, TN) donated 350 froyo cups to local healthcare workers
• Aloha Yogurt (Tempe, AZ) launched a campaign, Treat A Hero, to collect donations of froyo to first responders like the ER nurses at Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital.
• Big Spoon Yogurt (Roseville, CA) donated 100% of its profits to help the local community
• Chiller Bee (Conroe, TX) donated froyo to the Conroe police department
• Eat'N'Go (Nigeria), the master franchisee of Domino's Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, ad Pinkberry in Nigeria, has been donating food to essential workers during the coronavirus crisis.
• Menchie’s Antelope Valley Mall (Palmdale, CA) donated froyo to the medical staff at Palmdale Regional Medical Center
• Menchie's (Glendale & South Pasadena, CA) donated froyo to the nurses and doctors at Glendale Adventist Hospital.
• Menchie's Johnson Ave (The Bronx, NY) gave 200 cups of froyo to employees of the New York Presbyterian Columbia University Medical Center with the help of an anonymous donor
• Menchie's Arkansas has donated 1,500 cups to local medical personnel and launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to donate more froyo. They also delivered complimentary froyo to the Little Rock Air Force Base with the money they raised.
• Menchie’s Northcrest (Charlotte, NC) donated a froyo cake to the North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue and is encouraging people to adopt pets. They also donated froyo to Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Menchie’s University (Encino, CA) donated froyo to ONEgeneration, a local non-profit that provides programs and services to seniors and their caregivers to promote physical and mental well-being.
• Menchie's Windsor (CT) brought froyo to Community Health Services of Hartford, Hartford Healthcare's Urgent Care and Hartford Hospital's COVID-19 unit, thanks to the donation from Kristen & Scott
• Monster Yogurt (TX) is asking for donations to send snack packs to the coronavirus front lines
• Pinkberry (London, UK) donated froyo to the staff at Royal London Hospital
• sweetFrog (Lawrenceville, GA) donated 218 froyo cups to essential workers.
• TCBY (Greeley, CO) donated froyo to Banner Health's North Colorado Medical Center, multiple times
• Yasso lent their refrigerated froyo truck to Metro Ministries to serve as a mobile food bank in Denver, Colorado
• Yobu (UK) brought froyo to the staff at Avon View Care & Nursing Home in Christchurch, thanks to the donation from Rob Smith 
• Yoga-urt (Glendale & Los Angeles, CA) has set up a Go Fund Me campaign to collect donations to send froyo pints & bowls to medical teams in Los Angeles. If you’d like to donate froyo, check out the campaign. And Yoga-urt joined Support + Feed, the initiative created by Billie Eilish's mom which partners with vegan restaurants in LA and NY to help feed first responders, hospitals, senior centers and others.
• Yogurt Mill (Modesto & Turlock, CA) donated froyo to the NCCU nurses, ER staff, and the Patient Access staff at Doctors Medical Center
• Yogurtland Uptown (New Orleans, LA) donated froyo to the University Medical Center New Orleans
• Yogurtland Genesee Plaza (San Diego, CA) donated froyo to local food pantry, Porchlight Community.
• Yogurtland partnered with the Los Angeles Angels and donated 160 cups of froyo to MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, CA

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.