Showing posts with label froyo vending machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label froyo vending machine. Show all posts

Thursday, July 4, 2024

iCream Showroom and Pinkberry Vending Machine Update

iCream showroom

Pinkberry vending machine in Koreatown


Fro-yo girl here. The “closing” of the Pinkberry vending machine at The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia, CA, sparked my curiosity about the other Pinkberry vending machines. The first installation was at the Cabazon Outlets in March 2022.

Posted reviews claim that the machine no longer works:

  • “Took my 20. No refund and no ice cream. Hang up after making a phone call and never answer the phone again.”
  • “Scam machine, paid money and no yogurt. Website is dead and they’re not answering their phone.”
  • “Scam !!!!! you pay and no yogurt”

The Beverly Center machines are marked as temporarily closed by Google.

The Ontario Airport machines are not listed on the airport website. Other vending machines are listed on the airport website.

The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks does not list the vending machine, although other vending machines are listed on the mall website.

Pacific View Mall, Ventura: The mall website does not list the vending machine

Westfield Topanga: There is no mention of the vending machine on the mall website

The iCream showroom is still there but it was closed on a weekday afternoon (it was dark inside and the door was locked). There were five vending machines inside, wrapped in tarps. The showroom was supposed to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Koreatown was the most recent installation. It was installed in July 2023. Less than a year later, it’s still at Koreatown Plaza but the machine was turned off. There was a new Sprinkles Cupcake vending machine next to the Pinkberry vending machine last July and that's no longer there either. 

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.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

iCream 24/7 Automated Showroom with Froyo, Acai & Ice Cream Opens in Los Angeles






Fro-yo girl here. iCream recently opened the Sky Lounge showroom in the Melrose District in West Hollywood. It’s open 24/7 because it’s fully automated. The showroom houses six intelligent vending machines. Three of them serve iCream's soft serve ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, salted butter caramel), one machine serves acai, and two machines serve Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Each machine offers one flavor. All the machines offer cups of ice cream, acai, or froyo for $6. The $6 for froyo includes toppings. A foldable spoon is attached to the bottom of the cup.

The Pinkberry vending machine offers 3 dry toppings and 3 sauces to choose from: Oreos, sprinkles, mini M&Ms, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, and caramel sauce.

The amount of yogurt dispensed is small (3 ounces?) but the texture and taste were pretty good, pretty similar to what you'd get at Pinkberry. The Oreo topping was a tiny bit of cookie dust. I appreciate the small portion but think it could be a dollar or two cheaper because the cup is so small. And the selection of toppings is limited.

The vending machine accepts cash (bills only) and credit cards but does not provide any change. You can pay with your phone.

The showroom provides seating and a restroom (hard to find in this area).

The vending machines provide consistent serving sizes in a sanitary setting and they can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Labor costs are obviously lower as is rent. However, the vending machines provide limited flavors and toppings. They do not layer the froyo and toppings.

* I-CREAM: 666 N Kilkea Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048

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.


Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Pinkberry Vending Machines Added to Additional Malls in Southern California


Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry vending machines powered by iCream have now been installed in five shopping malls in Southern California: Beverly Center (Los Angeles), Cabazon Outlets (Cabazon), Westfield Santa Anita (Arcadia), Westfield Topanga (Canoga Park) and The Oaks (Thousand Oaks).

I spotted the Pinkberry vending machine at Westfield Topanga by the food court. Like the other Pinkberry vending machine, there’s one size (small), one flavor (original tart), and toppings. It starts at $5 for a small yogurt with no toppings. 

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.