Painful California Froyo Shop Closures in 2024

Yogurt Farms Snoopy

Fro-yo girl here. Before the year ends, I’d like to recognize a few froyo shops that closed this year that deserve a few words.

Yogurt Farms, 1224 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

This one really hurts. Yogurt Farms opened in 1982 across the street from Santa Rosa High School. It remained family-owned and operated. There was a huge Snoopy statue in front because Charles Schulz lived in Santa Rosa. Charles Schulz probably was a Yogurt Farms fan? Unless he didn't like froyo. Yogurt Farms was counter-serve and very much old school. I visited back in 2009.

Apizza & Loving Cup, 2043 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115

This was the first apizza location to open back in 2019. Apizza was the new concept from the founder of La Boulangerie and owner of Loving Cup. This location also had Loving Cup froyo, mixed with the add-ins of your choice, and hand-churned to order. Apizza closed on Fillmore (Pacific Heights), but added the pizza concept to Loving Cup on Divisadero in San Francisco and in Greenbrae.

iYogurt, 6560 Lone Tree Way Brentwood, CA 94513

iYogurt wasn’t the first self-serve froyo shop in Brentwood, but I think it lasted the longest. It opened in 2010. Iyogurt also had gelato.

Pinkberry, 540 W Stuart Ave Ste 110/B Redlands, CA 92374

Pinkberry opened in Redlands in 2021. There are so few Pinkberry branches left that every closure hurts.

The Yogurt Farms closure hurts the most. Does anyone know what happened to the Snoopy holding a froyo cone statue?

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.

2024 California Froyo Shop Openings and Closings

Go Greek, Studio City

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been tracking froyo shop openings and closings all year. I found 30 new froyo shops and shops that aren’t primarily froyo shops but serve froyo in 2024. This is considerably less than last year, when I found 41 new places for froyo. In 2022, I found 46 new places that serve froyo. However, I always find more new froyo shops after publishing this post, so the number will most likely increase. 

Of the 30 new places for froyo in 2024, 20 are froyo shops, two are mobile froyo units, and seven are non-froyo shops that offer soft serve froyo. Most of the new shops are not part of a large franchise. Last year’s growth was driven by Nick the Greek, which opened 11 new branches in California. This year, Nick the Greek opened seven new branches in California.

I found fourteen froyo shop closings and six ownership changes. Two closings resulted in a name change and a replacement with another froyo shop.

My goal is to track any new venue that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks, froyo trailers, vending machines, amusement parks, stadiums, etc. It's easier to track openings, since they're usually announced, but many places close quietly.

Businesses are listed in alphabetical order with the location noted.

Openings

• Aggie Yogurt, Davis
• Cuppa Yo, Dublin
• Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek
• Go Greek Yogurt, Studio City
• Golden Spoon, Tustin
• Golden Spoon, Irvine
• Golden Spoon, Oceanside
• Got Scoopz, Livermore
• Kulfi Cone, Yuba City (mobile trailer)
• Lol Yogurt, Santa Maria
• Rainbow Froyo, Benicia
• Rainbow Frozen Yogurt, Moreno Valley
• Spoon and Cone, West Hollywood
• Supermoms to Go, Ceres (froyo trailer)
• Top A Lot, Gilroy
• Tutti Frutti, Montebello
• Yoberries, Fresno
• Yoga-urt, Granada Hills, Los Angeles
• Yogurt Lounge, Murrieta
• Yogurt Mill, second truck
• Yogurtland, Santa Monica
• Yokli Yogurt, Manteca
• Yum Yum Yogurt is back in Kingsburg, California. It was Yum Yum Yogurt, then it was The Froyo Co, and now it’s Yum Yum Yogurt again

Not a Froyo Shop but Serves Froyo

• Nick the Greek, Berkeley
• Nick the Greek, Santa Barbara
• Nick the Greek, Pinole
• Nick the Greek, Greenbrae
• Nick the Greek, Yorba Linda
• Nick the Greek, Santa Maria
• Nick the Greek, San Mateo

Closings

• Apizza & Loving Cup, San Francisco (Fillmore)
• Culture Shock, Grass Valley
• The Froyo Co, Kingsburg
• Froyology, Montebello
• Golden Spoon, Upland
• Got Scoopz, Livermore
• iYogurt, Brentwood
• Kalamaki, Los Angeles
• Menchie's, Thousand Oaks
• Pinkberry, Redlands
• Sweetie’s Ice Cream Shop, Santa Barbara
• The Sweet Stuff, Buellton
• Yogurt Farms, Santa Rosa
• Yogurtland, Santa Monica

New ownership

• CoCo Swirl, Pleasant Hill
• Heavenly Yogurt, San Diego
• Menchie’s, San Fernando
• Menchie’s Rancho San Diego, El Cajon
• Spoons Frozen Yogurt, Porterville
• Tiger’s Yogurt, Stockton

Future Shops

• Golden Spoon, Laguna Beach
• Menchie’s, Manteca
• Menchie’s, Cameron Park
• Menchie’s, Clovis
• Menchie’s, Madera
• Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
• Nick the Greek, Ceres
• Pinkberry, Roseville

Since I find out about openings and closings after publishing my post, I’ll keep updating this post. Did I miss any openings or closings? Let me know.

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.

SweetFrog Has One Location Left West of Texas

 

SweetFrog Palmdale, CA

Fro-yo girl here. If you’ve been wanting to try SweetFrogSweetFrog and live or visit the West Coast, you should know that SweetFrog has one location left on the West Coast and it’s in Victorville, Caliifornia, 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles, north of the San Bernardino mountains on the edge of the Mojave Desert. SweetFrog Victorville opened in 2015.

There were four other SweetFrog shops in California. The shops were in Camarillo, Lancaster, Palmdale, and Riverside. Riverside had the first SweetFrog shop in California.

• SweetFrog, 5225 Canyon Crest Dr, STE 90, Riverside, CA 92507, opened in 2012 and closed in 2019. It was the first SweetFrog that I ever visited in 2015.
• SweetFrog, 2306 Las Posas Rd Ste C, Camarillo, Suite C, Camarillo, CA 93010, was the fifth SweetFrog location in California. It opened in 2015 and closed in 2019.
• SweetFrog, 44758 Valley Central Way, Lancaster, CA 93536 opened in 2014. The name of the shop was changed to Sweet Bunnies Frozen Yogurt in 2023.
• SweetFrog, 38029 E 47th Ave Ste A, Palmdale, CA 93552, opened in 2013 and closed in 2023.

There are no other SweetFrog shops west of Texas.

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.

Painful California Froyo Shop Closures in 2023

Yogurtland on Sunset Blvd, Hollywood

 

Fro-yo girl here. Before the year ends, I’d like to recognize a few froyo shops that closed this year that deserve a few words.

Ace Frozen Yogurt, 160 E Duarte Rd, Ste E, Arcadia, CA 91006

Ace Frozen Yogurt was the oldest remaining froyo shop in San Gabriel Valley. The counter-serve shop opened in 1986. Ace Frozen Yogurt. Ace Frozen Yogurt opened in 1986. The counter-serve froyo shop served Dannon YoCream froyo, smoothies, shaved ice, and more. The new owners, 626 Hospitality Group, kept the soft serve machines. They make top-notch soft serve ice cream with LA-inspired flavors from scratch.

Loving Cup, 2356 Polk St., San Francisco, CA 94109

Loving Cup closed the original location in Russian Hill earlier this summer. The shop opened in late 2008, specializing in hand-churned mix-in style froyo and rice pudding. Customers selected a size, a base (chocolate, vanilla or non-dairy), and mix-ins. The associate would hand churn everything together using a machine.

Menchie’s, 2901 Ocean Park Blvd, Ste 107, Santa Monica, CA 90405

The Menchie’s on Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica has had multiple owners. It was sold again this year and converted into The Yogurt Shoppe. Menchie’s Ocean Park Courtyard first opened in 2011, so it was 12 years old when it closed.

Menchie’s, 732 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Menchie’s opened on Montana Ave. in 2010 and was the scene of countless celebrity froyo sightings since opening across the street from TCBY. This was the first Menchie’s in Santa Monica.

Yogurt Stop, 8803 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Yogurt Stop closed after fifteen years because the landlord would not renew the lease. They baked some of their toppings and had the cutest names for their froyo flavors. They were open late, till 2 AM on some nights.

Yogurtland, 5541 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

This Yogurtland first opened in 2007. There were two things that I really liked about it. First, you could see Yogurtland and the Hollywood sign together from the Target across the street. Second, there was a parking lot.

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.

2023 California Froyo Shop Openings & Closings

iCream showroom, Los Angeles 

Yogurt Stop, West Hollywood

Fro-yo girl here. I thought there would be more froyo shop openings this year, since COVID-19 isn't as much of a concern. However, there were fewer new froyo shops this year than in 2022 and 2021. Also, I think it's the first time that the number of new non-froyo shops serving froyo exceeded the number of new froyo shops, driven by the explosive growth of Nick the Greek.

In 2023, I found 41 new places that serve soft-serve froyo: 15 new froyo shops, 1 froyo truck, 19 non-froyo shops that serve froyo, and 4 froyo vending machine installations. In 2022, I found 46 new places that serve froyo: 18 new froyo shops (including two froyo trucks), 20 non-froyo shops, and 8 froyo vending machines. There were even more new froyo shops in 2021, fifteen, compared to 2023.

Six of the 2023 new froyo shop and truck openings were part of national froyo chains. Eight of twelve new froyo shop and truck openings were in Southern California, and four in Northern California.  

My goal is to track any new venue that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks, froyo trailers, vending machines, amusement parks, stadiums, etc. It's easier to track openings, since they're usually announced, but many places close quietly.

Businesses are listed in alphabetical order with the location.

New Froyo Shops and Trucks

• Beary Bliss, Big Bear Lake
• Frosty Peaks, Ridgecrest
• Froyology, Montebello
• The Frozone, Roseville
• Golden Spoon, Newport Beach
• LOL Yogurt, Atascadero
• Menchie’s, Burbank (moved)
• Menchie’s, Natomas, Sacramento
• Moxie's, Windsor (froyo truck)
• Pinkberry, Sacramento
• Prive La Yogurt, Roseville
• YOBA, Ontario
• The Yogurt Shoppe, Santa Monica (took over Menchie’s)
• Yogurt Bear, Santa Ana
• Yogurtland, Hastings Ranch, East Pasadena
• Yogurtland, Riverside
• Yogurtland, Palmdale (East)

Not a Froyo Shop but Serves Froyo

• IKEA, San Francisco
• Kalamaki Greek, Los Angeles (not new but added Greek froyo in November)
• Moo & Brew, Placerville
• Mrs. Chips Cookies, Sherman Oaks
• Nick the Greek, Hayward
• Nick the Greek, San Leandro
• Nick the Greek, Riverbank
• Nick the Greek, Belmont Shore, Long Beach
• Nick the Greek, San Luis Obispo
• Nick the Greek, West Hollywood
• Nick the Greek, Visalia
• Nick the Greek, San Dimas
• Nick the Greek, La Mirada
• Nick the Greek, Marina Del Rey
• Nick the Greek, Danville
• Nick the Greek, Monterey
• Pita GR, Brea
• Souvla, Larkspur
• Wafflecomb, Santa Clarita (not new but added self-serve froyo)
• Valley Swirl, Los Angeles

Froyo Vending Machines

• iCream showroom, Pinkberry, Los Angeles
• iCream, Pinkberry, Kidtopia, Fremont
• iCream, Pinkberry, San Francisco
• iCream, Pinkberry, Koreatown, Los Angeles

I didn't count rebranded froyo businesses or ones that changed ownership as new froyo businesses, but I tried to track both.

New Ownership of Froyo Shop

• Honeymoon Frozen Yogurt, Sebastopol
• Menchie’s, Pico Rivera
• Pinkberry, Marina Del Rey
• Pinkberry, Beverly Hills
• Yogurtland, Claremont

Froyo Shop Name Change

• Orange Tree, San Bruno, new name: San Froyo
• Sweetfrog, Lancaster, new name: Sweet Bunnies
• Tutti Frutti, San Carlos, new name: Toot Sweet Frozen Yogurt
• Tutti Frutti, Long Beach, new name: Frozen Oasis
• Tutti Frutti, Artesia, new name: Go-Go Froyo
• Tutti Frutti Hayward, new name: Fruity Froyo
• Tutti Frutti San Jose (Eastridge), new name: Fruity Froyo
• Yum Yum Yogurt, Kingsburg, new name: The Froyo Co.

As for froyo shop closings, I found 22 this year or nineteen if you consider the non-froyo shops that served froyo and closed. Last year, I found twenty-one froyo shop and non-froyo shop closings. Three Menchie's locations closed and eight Yogurtland locations closed in 2023. Most of the froyo shops that closed were older (over 10 years old) shops. Ace Frozen Yogurt in Arcadia was over 30 years old. Two of the froyo shops that closed were replaced by other froyo shops.

Froyo Shop Closings

• Ace Frozen Yogurt, Arcadia
• Chill, Studio City
• Dolci Mango, Chula Vista
• Joghurt, Chino
• Joy Sedona, Lake Balboa
• Loving Cup, Russian Hill, San Francisco
• Menchie’s, Ocean Park, Santa Monica (now The Yogurt Shoppe)
• Menchie’s, Montana Ave, Santa Monica
• Menchie’s, Newport Beach (now Golden Spoon)
• Spoonful Yogurt Café, Riverside
• Sweetfrog, Palmdale
• Yogurtland, Brentwood, Los Angeles
• Yogurtland, Hollywood, Los Angeles
• Yogurtland, Pinole
• Yogurtland, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles
• Yogurtland, Ladera Heights, Los Angeles
• Yogurtland, Northwood, Irvine
• Yogurtland, Oceanside
• Yogurtland, Costa Mesa, 17th St.
• Yogurt Shack, Concord
• Yogurt Stop, West Hollywood
• Yummy Spoon Yogurt, Chula Vista

Closings, Not a Froyo Shop 

• Health Habit, Valley Springs
• Mrs. Chips Cookies, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
• Sweet Retreat, Morgan Hill

Not Closed, No Longer Serving Froyo

• The Kona Ice Shop, Winters

More froyo is on the way. I found 28 places listed as opening soon, with Nick the Greek accounting for 23 of these future locations.

Future Places Serving Froyo

• Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek
• Cuppa Yo, Dublin
• Menchie’s, Cameron Park
• Menchie's, Clovis
• Nick the Greek, Berkeley
• Nick the Greek, Hollister
• Nick the Greek, Tracy
• Nick the Greek, Oakland
• Nick the Greek, Sonoma
• Nick the Greek, Stockton
• Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
• Nick the Greek, Folsom
• Nick the Greek, Mountain View
• Nick the Greek, Marin
• Nick the Greek, Salinas
• Nick the Greek, Natomas
• Nick the Greek, Sacramento
• Nick the Greek, San Francisco, 4 locations
• Nick the Greek, Santa Barbara
• Nick the Greek, Pinole
• Nick the Greek, Mill Valley
• Nick the Greek, Petaluma
• Nick the Greek, Natomas
• Nick the Greek, Stockton
• Pinkberry, Natomas
• Pinkberry, Manteca
• Pinkberry, John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana
• Pinkberry, Fremont
• Yoga-urt, Granada Hills, Los Angeles

I’ll keep updating this post if I find out about other 2023 froyo shop openings and closings. Did I miss any openings or closings? Let me know.

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.

PokiTomik Takes Over Yogurtland’s Downtown Burbank Space

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland Media Center in downtown Burbank closed last fall after nearly 13 years in business. It took a few months to remove the fixtures and the Yogurtland sign was removed in January. The space has been leased and PokiTomik opened on July 2 and serving poke bowls. The wall of yogurt machines is now just a wall. PokiTomik currently has 14 locations, all in Southern California. They do not serve froyo.

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

* POKITOMIK: 304 N. San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

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 on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Has Closed

 

view of Yogurtland Hollywood from Target, before it closed

Yogurtland Hollywood

Yogurtland Hollywood sign removed

Fro-yo girl here. I guess I haven’t been to this part of Hollywood for a few months. The Yogurtland on Sunset closed. The last day was January 27, 2023. I visited that location a few times. Parking wasn’t easy to find but they did have a shared lot. I remember it was temporarily closed for repairs (pipe burst?) maybe two years ago? A few businesses in that shopping center were affected.

Looking at the most recent reviews, it sounds like the shop went downhill and was barely offering any froyo flavors before they closed. Most of the reviews written in 2020 were negative.

They posted the following message on their Facebook page on 2/1/23, “Thanks for all the love and support at our Whittier store throughout the years! Unfortunately, we have permanently closed our doors as of 1/27/23. It was a pleasure to serve you!”

Yogurtland Whittier store closed in December 2022, so they must be referring to the Hollywood Sunset location.

Yogurtland Hollywood opened in 2007. The froyo was $0.30/oz then! While the location has closed and the froyo machines have been removed, it still has the froyo wall and the counter inside. When I tried the peer inside, a security guard opened the door and said potential buyers were looking at the space. The Yogurtland signs are gone though. There was a sign on the door

I liked to look at Yogurtland location from the Target store that’s across the street. You can see Yogurtland, the Hollywood Hills, and the Hollywood sign from there.

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

* YOGURTLAND, 5541 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

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 Whittier, CA Has Closed & Other Whittier Froyo News

Yogurtland Whittier, interior

Yogurtland Whittier, exterior

Fro-yo girl here. I hadn’t visited Whittier for a few months (not since fall 2022 when Amazon Go first opened) and it felt like time for another big flat rate cup of Pinkberry. The price hasn’t changed – it’s still $4.99, including toppings. And it’s still self-serve. Amazon Go is doing a good job with the froyo texture too! Anyway, as I was driving over to Amazon Go on Whittier Blvd., I noticed the Yogurtland sign had disappeared.

Yogurtland Whittier at the Quad has closed! The last day was December 23, 2022. They posted the following message on Facebook, “Thanks for all the love and support at our Whittier store throughout the years! Unfortunately, we have permanently closed our doors as of 12/23/22.” The shop first opened in 2012.

I took a few pictures. The froyo machines are gone but the counters, lights, and tile are still there. The exterior and interior signs were removed. I visited the location a few times. R.I.P., Yogurtland Whittier.

In other Whittier froyo news, Rockie’s is under now ownership. The shop was closed for remodeling and it reopened on March 25.

* YOGURTLAND, 13582-A Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA 90605

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 Loft Moves Into the Old Yogurt Haven Space in Eagle Rock

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurt Haven was the oldest froyo shop in Eagle Rock (a neighborhood in Los Angeles). The self-serve shop was open from 2009 – February 2019. Up until the end of last year, you could still see the wall where the froyo machines were inside. The space at 2256 Colorado Blvd. has finally been occupied by The Loft, a hair salon. The Loft moved from their Townsend Ave. location in Eagle Rock.

Yogurt Haven still appears on the strip mall sign.  

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 Sign Removed in Burbank, CA

Fro-yo girl here. Back in September 2022, I reported that Yogurtland in downtown Burbank had closed in August 2022. The soft serve machines and toppings bar, even the water dispenser and signs were still inside at that time. And that’s how it stayed for a few months. Even in early December, the Yogurtland sign was up. The inside hasn’t been demolished but things have been removed. Well, the Yogurtland sign has now been removed and they recently put up a for lease sign (a few days after this picture was taken). The tables are still inside and the counter is still there too. I'll report back on what happens to the space.

If you're in downtown Burbank and want froyo, Pinkberry is still open.

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

YOGURTLAND MEDIA CENTER: 304 N. San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

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.

2022 California Froyo Shop Openings & Closings

Fro-yo girl here. It's been an interesting year for froyo in California. While froyo shops continued to deal with rising costs and supply shortages, the number of non-froyo shops offering froyo seemed to be higher than ever, thanks to froyo vending machines (iCream partnered with Pinkberry) and Nick the Greek. Amazon Go opened three shops in Southern California, two of which offer self-serve Pinkberry froyo.

I tried to keep track of any place that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks and trailers, vending machines, and more. As usual, it's easier to find out about openings since many places close quietly, without making any announcement. 

Froyo Shop Openings (Includes Froyo Trucks)

1. Abyss Yogurt, inside Abyss Market, Valley Village
2. Cool Spot, Brentwood (froyo truck)
3. Easy Breezy, Los Gatos
4. Golden Spoon, Valencia (Northpark)
5. Joy Sedona, Lake Balboa
6. K&J Froyo & Kafe, Hanford
7. Lizzy’s Premium Frozen Yogurt, Desert Hot Springs 
8. Never Better Frozen Yogurt, Lake Elsinore
9. NuYo, Blue Oaks, West Roseville
10. Sprinkles on Top, Elk Grove
11. Sweet Spot, Escalon
12. Tuttimelon, Fairfield
13. Waffie & Yogie, Long Beach
14. Yogurt Mill, Modesto (froyo truck)
15. Yogurt Stop, Walnut Creek
16. Yogurtland, Fresno – El Paseo 
17. Yogurtland, Palmdale - East Ave.
18. Yogurtland, Madera
19. Yogurtland, Pixley

Not a Froyo Shop but Serves Froyo

1. Active Culture, Long Beach
2. Amazon Go, Whittier 
3. Amazon Go, Woodland Hills 
4. Anita Gelato, Tarzana
5. Jayna Gyro, Sacramento
6. K Street, Oakland
7. Loop Market, Sacramento
8. Nick the Greek, Daly City (Gellert)
9. Nick the Greek, Elk Grove
10. Nick the Greek, Foster City
11. Nick the Greek, Fresno
12. Nick the Greek, Novato
13. Nick the Greek, Roseville - Fountains
14. Nick the Greek, San Francisco
15. Nick the Greek, Santa Rosa
16. Nick the Greek, Vacaville
17. Nick the Greek, Walnut Creek
18. Souvla, Dogpatch, San Francisco
19. Sweetie’s Ice Cream Shop, Santa Barbara
20. Valley Swirl, Los Angeles (moved)

Vending Machines

1. Pinkberry, Cabazon, Palm Springs
2. Pinkberry, Westfield Santa Anita, Arcadia
3. Pinkberry, Topanga, Canoga Park
4. Pinkberry, Oaks Mall, Thousand Oaks
5. Pinkberry, Beverly Center, Los Angeles
6. Pinkberry, Ontario International Airport, Terminal 2
7. Pinkberry, Ontario International Airport, Terminal 4
8. Pinkberry, Pacific View Mall, Ventura

That's a total of 46 new places that serve froyo: 18 new froyo shops (including two froyo trucks), 20 non-froyo shops, and 8 froyo vending machines. In 2021, I found 26 new places that started serving froyo, including 15 new froyo shops, 10 non-froyo shops that serve froyo, plus one existing café that added froyo. That's a lot more in 2022 vs. 2021. 

I didn’t count the rebranded froyo businesses or the ones under new ownership, but I did try to track both.

Name Change/Rebranded

• U Top It Subs & Sweets, Ukiah (moved, changed name from U Top It)

New Ownership

1. JoJo’s Yogurt, Clovis
2. Menchie's, Fremont
3. Tutti Frutti Canyon Country, Santa Clarita
4. Urban Yogurt, Shingle Springs
5. Waffie & Yogie, Long Beach

Closings

1. Big Spoon, Roseville
2. Cherry Chill, Ontario
3. Go Crazy, Concord
4. Hogi Yogi, Redlands
5. Menchie’s South Pasadena
6. Menchie's, Santa Maria
7. Mickey’s Yogurt, Riverside
8. Owl’s Ice Cream, Porter Ranch
9. PennyLane, Campbell
10. Riyo Yogurt, Lotus
11. Tutti Frutti, Buena Park
12. Tutti Frutti, North Hills
13. Tutti Frutti, Piedmont, Oakland
14. Valley Swirl, Los Angeles (moved)
15. YoFrutti, Moorpark
16. Yogurt Creations, Santa Maria
17. Yogurt World USA, Petaluma
18. Yogurtland, Santa Ana – Main Place Mall
19. Yogurtland, Brentwood
20. Yogurtland, Burbank - Downtown
21. Yogurtland, Whittier

As for froyo shop closings, I found twenty-one this year (and some weren't technically froyo shops, but I grouped them together since most were froyo shops). Three Yogurtland locations closed in Southern California and two Menchie's locations. One Yogurtland location closed in Northern California. In 2021, I found 45 closings, including 8 Menchie’s locations, 2 Pinkberry locations, 4 Tutti Frutti locations, and 6 Yogurtland locations. 

And more froyo is on the way. I found 20 places listed as opening soon.

Coming soon

1. Beary Bliss, Big Bear Lake
2. Menchie's, Burbank (moved)
3. Nick the Greek, Berkeley
4. Nick the Greek, Folsom
5. Nick the Greek, Hayward
6. Nick the Greek, Hollister
7. Nick the Greek, Marin
8. Nick the Greek, Monterey
9. Nick the Greek, Mountain View
10. Nick the Greek, Natomas
11. Nick the Greek, Oakland
12. Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
13. Nick the Greek, Sacramento
14. Nick the Greek, Salinas
15. Nick the Greek, Sonoma
16. Nick the Greek, Stockton
17. Nick the Greek, Tracy
18. Pinkberry, Manteca (1st drive-thru)
19. Souvla, Larkspur
20. Yoba, Ontario

Since I find out about openings and closings after publishing my post, I’ll keep updating this post. Did I miss any openings or closings? Let me know.

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 Downtown Burbank (Media Center) Closes

Fro-yo girl here. Sad news. Yogurtland in downtown Burbank (Media Center) has closed. It happened pretty recently. The shop still has toppings inside and nothing has been removed from the interior. But Yogurtland has removed the location from their website, the Yogurtland Burbank Facebook page says permanently closed, and the other Yogurtland location in Burbank confirmed the closure. The sign for Watermelon Sorbet with Sour Patch Kids flavor was still up.

There was no sign on the door explaining the closure and no announcement that I’m aware of.

Yogurtland Burbank Media Center was nearly 13 years old. I went a few times, including to the 5th anniversary celebration. Those were the good old days. I tried to go more recently but they were open odd hours and it always looked dark inside, like they weren’t turning on the lights. The reviews from this year are mostly very negative, citing unpredictable hours, stale toppings, runny froyo, broken machines, etc.

Yogurtland still has a branch in north Burbank on Victory Blvd.

YOGURTLAND: 304 N. San Fernando Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

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 Closes at Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall

Fro-yo girl here. Sad news. Yogurtland has closed the Santa Ana MainPlace Mall location. I went to that branch once, in December 2019, for the Yogurtland x Cheetos launch event (they were offering Flamin’ Hot Cheetos as a limited time froyo topping). It was my first and only time meeting Chester Cheetah. I also treasure the one giant orange Yogurtland spoon that I got at the event.

Yogurtland Santa Ana MainPlace Mall is no longer on the MainPlace mall website but it was mentioned on the MainPlace Mall Instagram account in June 2022. They’re listed as permanently closed on Yelp, Google Places, and their own Facebook page. The shop either closed in June or July. Yogurtland Santa Ana MainPlace first opened in 2014. The grand opening was on August 9, 2014 and included free froyo and toppings from 10 AM – 1 PM, prizes, giveaways, face painter, and a balloon artist.

Tutti Frutti is still open inside MainPlace Mall. Yogurtland’s other location in Santa Ana is still open at 2278 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (near South Coast Plaza).

* YOGURTLAND: 2800 N Main St. #1028, Santa Ana, CA 92705

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 South Pasadena

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s in South Pasadena, CA has closed. I’m not sure if the closure is temporary or permanent. According to Yelp, the shop is expected to reopen on August 24, 2022. Google Places says it’s permanently closed. The phone number has not been disconnected. However, the location is no longer listed on the Menchie’s app, so I think it’s closed for good or if it reopens, it won’t be as a Menchie’s. The closure occurred about 2 – 3 weeks ago.

The froyo machines are still inside the shop and most of the signage is still there. The light was on in the kitchen and everything seemed to still be there. The furniture is still there. There was no sign on the door and no announcement was made on social media. The last update on their Facebook page was made in February 2020. I’ll have to keep watching the space to see what happens.

They were closed down by the health department this time last year, so maybe the same thing happened? The county found rodent droppings.

Update: The business was listed for sale in February 2022 and it seems like they may have found a buyer. The transaction is listed as pending.

* MENCHIE’S: 1040 Mission St., South Pasadena, CA 91030

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.

Lucid to Take Over Yogurtland Pasadena Space

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland closed in Old Town Pasadena in fall 2019. The space, 30 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105, has been vacant ever since. A couple of months ago, I noticed a new flurry of activity but I couldn’t tell what was moving in. The new tenant has been revealed, luxury electric car manufacturer, Lucid. Lucid is also taking over the old Noodle World space which was next to Yogurtland. Both spaces will become a car showroom.

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.

2021 California Froyo Shop Openings and Closings

Fro-yo girl here. It’s time for my annual update of California froyo shop openings and closings 2021. It was still a tough year for small businesses, with COVID-19 restrictions, rising costs, and labor and supply shortages. Most self-serve froyo shops resumed allowing customers to serve their own yogurt and toppings.

As usual, I tried to track any place that serves froyo in soft serve form. This includes restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, food trucks and trailers, etc. It's always easiest to track openings since most frozen yogurt have a social media presence and Yelp listing. However, many shops close quietly, without making any announcement.

Here’s my attempt to track froyo shop openings and closings in California this year. Shops are listed in alphabetical order.

Froyo Shop Openings (Including Trucks and Pop-Ups)

1. Active Culture, Novato
2. Culture Shock, Auburn
3. FroGo, Alameda (froyo truck)
4. FrostedLUV, Stockton
5. Frutzy, Bakersfield (pop-up)
6. Machi Frozen Yogurt, Sacramento (formerly YoGo)
7. Pinkberry, Redlands
8. Simon’s Dole Whip & Yogurt, Temecula
9. SLO Froyo, San Luis Obispo
10. The Spot Café & Froyo, Weed
11. Sweet Boba, Fullerton
12. Toppings Frozen Yogurt, Santa Rosa
13. Yoga-urt, Santa Monica
14. Yogurt Pop, Rancho Murieta
15. Yogurtland, Madera

Openings, Serves Froyo but Not a Froyo Shop:

1. The Good Plow, Carpinteria
2. Nick the Greek, Dublin
3. Nick the Greek, Fremont
4. Nick the Greek, Fullerton
5. Nick the Greek, Roseville
6. Nick the Greek, San Mateo
7. Nick the Greek, Santa Clara, Westfield Valley Fair
8. Nick the Greek, Santa Monica
9. Nick the Greek, Westlake Village
10. Tahina, Alameda

Added Froyo, but Not a New Business and Not a Froyo Shop

• Capo, Belmont

That’s 15 new froyo shops, 10 non-froyo shops that serve froyo, plus one existing café that added froyo, for a total of 26 places that started serving froyo this year. Last year, I found 22 froyo shop openings. I didn’t count the rebranded froyo businesses or the ones under new ownership.

Rebranded

• Corner Café & Froyo Murrieta renamed Simon’s Dole Whip & Yogurt
• Yogurtland Lakewood (now Yogurtland by Holsom)

Under New Ownership

• Golden Spoon, Riverside
• Menchie’s Ocean Park, Santa Monica
• Red Mango, Los Angeles
• Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt, Whittier
• Top a Lot, Santa Cruz
• Yum Yum Yogurt, Kingsburg

Froyo Shop Closings

1. Big Kahuna Frozen Yogurt, Clovis
2. Big Spoon, Natomas
3. Blitzer’s! Premium Frozen Yogurt, Murrieta
4. Blizz, Downey
5. Cloud 9 Yogurt House, San Diego
6. Creme De La Ice Cream, Santa Maria
7. Culture Shock, Auburn (moved)
8. Fiji Yogurt, San Diego
9. Forty Carrots, Santa Monica
10. FROLO, Manteca
11. Frozen Land, Los Angeles (Westwood)
12. Frozo’s, Santa Clara
13. Golden Cups, Long Beach
14. Golden Spoon, Whittier
15. Golden Spoon, Valencia
16. Happy Yogurt, Escondido
17. Menchie’s, Burbank (moving)
18. Menchie’s, Chatsworth
19. Menchie’s, Glendale
20. Menchie’s Roseville
21. Menchie’s, Temecula
22. Menchie's, Van Nuys
23. Menchie’s Westchester
24. Menchie's, Westfield Mall, San Jose
25. Peachwave, Redondo Beach
26. Pink Boba, Fullerton
27. Pinkberry, Citrus Heights
28. Pinkberry, Hollywood
29. Prinkipia, Canoga Park
30. Red Mango, Los Angeles
31. Rockin’ Yogurt, Santa Barbara 
32. Ruby Frozen Yogurt, Stockton
33. Swirl Frozen Yogurt, Camarillo
34. Top That Yogurt, Sonoma
35. Tutti Frutti, Corona
36. Tutti Frutti, Montebello
37. Tutti Frutti, Norwalk
38. Tutti Frutti, Visalia
39. Tuttimelon, Fairfield
40. YoDo Yogurt, Campbell
41. Yogurt Creations, Paso Robles
42. Yogurt Creations, Atascadero
43. Yogurt Creations, Arroyo Grande
44. Yogurt Creations, Lompoc
45. Yogurt Valley, Wildomar
46. Yogurtland, Alhambra
47. Yogurtland, Burlingame
48. Yogurtland, Long Beach, 7th St.
49. Yogurtland, Mission Viejo - Kaleidoscope
50. Yogurtland, Oxnard
51. Yogurtland, San Bernardino
52. Yogurtland, San Luis Obispo
53. YOJO Coffee & Frozen Yogurt, Menifee

I found 53 closings, including 8 Menchie’s locations, 2 Pinkberry locations, 4 Tutti Frutti locations, and 7 Yogurtland locations. Yogurt Creations closed their remaining locations.  Last year, I found 72 froyo shop closings. It was a very tough year due to the pandemic.

Coming soon

• Active Culture, Long Beach
• Beary Bliss Yogurt Shop & Sweets, Big Bear
• Easy Breezy, Los Gatos
• Menchie’s, Burbank (moving)
• NuYo Frozen Yogurt, Roseville
• Sprinkles on Top, Elk Grove
• Yogurt Stop, Rossmoor
• Yogurtland, Fresno (Riverside Dr.)
• Yogurtland, Pixley

Since I find out about openings and closings after publishing my post, I’ll keep updating this post. Did I miss any openings or closings? Let me know.

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.

It’s Boba Time To Move Into Old Menchie’s Alhambra Space

Fro-yo girl here. The signs are up; boba chain, It’s Boba Time, is taking over the old Menchie’s Alhambra space at 9 E Main Street. It’s Boba Time started in 2003. Some of their locations used to offer soft serve frozen yogurt, including the one in Koreatown LA and Eagle Rock. I haven’t seen froyo at their shops in years, so I’m not sure if any of them still offer froyo. Their website and online menu do not mention froyo. They added acai bowls at some point.

I’ve been to many boba shops. It’s Boba Time isn’t that good. I’ve even had their froyo and it wasn’t good. There are better boba shops in downtown Alhambra.

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 Alhambra Has Closed

Fro-yo girl here. I didn’t see this one coming; Yogurtland has permanently closed the Alhambra, CA location. The last day was 10/25/21. I went earlier in October. I dropped by and the Yogurtland sign behind the shop was gone. The soft serve machines had also been removed.

They posted a message on Facebook: “Thanks for all the love and support at our Alhambra store throughout the years! Unfortunately, we have permanently closed our doors as of 10/25/21. It was a pleasure to serve you.”

Sadly, Yogurtland Alhambra was the last froyo shop in Alhambra. It opened in 2009 and was my regular Yogurtland location. I’ll have to find a new Yogurtland to make my regular spot.

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

YOGURTLAND ALHAMBRA: 1 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801

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.

Pinkberry in Hollywood Has Closed

 

Pinkberry, Sunset and Fuller

Fro-yo girl here. Sad news, Angelenos. Pinkberry Sunset and Fuller in Hollywood closed in April 2021. I didn’t realize it right away since it’s not in an area that I pass by often. It was a good location that first opened in 2008. The reviews were positive up until the very end which is good to see. The owner of Sunset and Fuller used to own Pinkberry in La Canada Flintridge too. This means there’s no longer a Pinkberry in Hollywood (crying). The very first Pinkberry opened in West Hollywood.

The space is now available for lease.

I posted a review of the location in 2016.

* PINKBERRY, 7288 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

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.