Tucson's Froyo History

BTO Yogurt, Tucson, Source: Yelp

Campus Candy, Tucson, Source: Yelp

Fro-yo girl here. In my previous post, I wrote about the froyo shops that are currently operating in Tucson, Arizona. Today, I’m sharing my list of former froyo shops in Tucson. Keep in mind that the older the froyo shop, the more difficult it is to find information.

History of Froyo in Tucson

TCBY, Carol’s Yogurt Shoppe (later Sundaze), and Yogurt Station/Yogurt Delight/Frozen Delight were the old school counter-serve froyo shops in town. Most of the froyo shops that opened after 2008 were self-serve. BTO Yogurt, a self-serve froyo concept, which was headquartered in Tucson, opened seven locations in Tucson. They also opened locations in other states. The first BTO Yogurt opened in Tucson in 2009 and the last one to close closed in 2019. They wanted to be the place for self-serve froyo in Tucson. Despite the abundance of BTO Yogurt branches, national chains like Red Mango, Tutti Frutti, Peachwave, Yogurtland, Orange Leaf, and U-Swirl joined the froyo fray. Surprisingly, Tucson has never had a Menchie’s.

There was a cluster of froyo shops by the University of Arizona but none remain. UA also had a Reis & Irvy’s froyo vending machine.

Costco, which has three locations in greater Tucson, used to carry froyo at their snack bar but they switched to soft serve ice cream. IKEA, another common source for froyo, does not have a location in Tucson.

Here’s the list of former froyo shops, in alphabetical order:

1. BTO Yogurt, E. Sunrise Dr., Tucson, was the first BTO branch in Tucson. The shop opened in 2009 and closed in 2012. It was self-serve and offered 16 froyo flavors a day for $0.39/oz.
2. BTO Yogurt, 8245 N. Silverbell Road, Tucson, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2015 and closed in 2019.
3. BTO Yogurt, 8295 N. Cortaro Road, Tucson was the second branch that was open in 2011.
4. BTO Yogurt, 8650 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, was open from 2012 – 2013.
5. BTO Yogurt, 2721 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson, was open from 2009 – 2014.
6. BTO Yogurt, 9040 E. Valencia Rd., Ste. 172, Tucson, was open at Rita Ranch from 2013 – 2016.
7. BTO Yogurt, 9725 North Thornydale Rd. # 139, Tucson, might have been open from 2012 - 2014.
8. Campus Candy, 910 E University Blvd #5049, Tucson, was a chain of candy and self-serve froyo shops located near college campuses, including this one next to University of Arizona. The shop opened in 2011 with over 400 varieties of candy. At the time, it was the third Campus Candy in the US. It may have closed in 2019.
9. Carol’s Yogurt Shoppe, 4777 E Sunrise Dr #139, Tucson, was founded in 1987 and had multiple counter-serve locations in Tucson. I’m not sure how many locations existed and I’m not sure of the order in which they opened. This location on Sunrise Dr. became Sundaze in 2002.
10. Carol’s Yogurt Shoppe, 3601 East Broadway Blvd, Tucson, was part of the older froyo craze in Tucson. It was inside the El Con Mall.
11. Carol’s Yogurt Shoppe, 923 E University Blvd, Tucson, was part of the older froyo craze in Tucson. This branch was across the street from the University of Arizona.
12. The City Yogurt (1217 W Irvington Rd, Ste 141, Tucson) was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2011. They offered 14 froyo flavors at a time and may have closed in 2014 or 2015. It was the only froyo shop in the South Tucson area.
13. Kona Beri, 9155 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, opened in 2010 with a Hawaiian atmosphere and a self-serve format. The shop closed in 2016.
14. Malibu Frozen Yogurt, 825 E University Blvd, Ste 161, Tucson opened in 2010 near the University of Arizona campus and the last review was in 2012. It was related to the Malibu Yogurt in Malibu, California. They also served ice cream and coffee. It was counter-serve.
15. Orange Leaf, 4644 E Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, might have opened in 2010 or early 2011, before U-Swirl opened their first location. The last check-in on Foursquare was in 2012. The shop was self-serve.
16. The Parlour, 611 N 4th Ave Tucson, was a self-serve froyo shop that charged by the cup, not by weight. The kid’s cup was just $2. The Parlor opened in 2013 and closed in 2015. It had the same ownership as Magpies Gourmet Pizza next door. Magpies on 4th Avenue is still open.
17. Planet Smoothie, 7315 North Oracle Rd, Suite 108, Tucson, was open from 2011 – 2018. This location even had self-serve froyo.
18. Planet Smoothie, 11025 Carolina Place Parkway, D-29, Tucson, was open in 2015 and may have had self-serve froyo.
19. Red Mango, 4758 E Sunrise Dr, Tucson, may have opened in 2012 and closed in 2013. It was self-serve.
20. Red Mango, 1031 N Park Ave #123, Tucson, was on the University of Arizona campus but I couldn’t find any reviews or information about the location.
21. Reis & Irvy’s installed their froyo vending machine at the University of Arizona at the Slot Canyon Café in 2018. I’m not sure how long it was there but I doubt that it’s still there.
22. TCBY, 7401 N La Cholla Blvd #155, Tucson, was inside the Foothills Mall. The location closed in 2018. It’s unclear when it first opened.
23. TCBY, 7960 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson existed but I’m not sure when it was in business.
24. Twirls, 3587 E Broadway Blvd, Ste 115, Tucson, was a self-serve froyo shop inside El Con Mall. It replaced U-Swirl in 2016 and closed in 2019.
25. U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, 3587 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, was a self-serve froyo shop and part of a national froyo chain. Looking at social media posts, it seems to have opened in 2011 and closed in 2016. This was the first U-Swirl in Tucson.
26. U-Swirl, 3601 East Broadway Blvd, Tucson, was located inside the El Con Mall. I’m not sure when it opened or closed but my guess is that it opened shortly after the first U-Swirl in Tucson.
27. Yogurt Delight, 1101 N Wilmot Rd #107, Tucson, was a counter-serve froyo shop that may have opened in 2010 and closed in 2015/2016. It became Frozen Delight.
28. Yogurt Station, 1101 N Wilmot Rd #107, Tucson, was a counter-serve froyo shop that may have opened in 2009. The last tweet was in 2010. It became Yogurt Delight.
29. Yogurt Swirl, 4500 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, was a self-serve froyo shop inside Tucson Mall that may have opened in 2017 and closed in 2021. It seems to have closed in 2018 or 2019.
30. Yogurtland, 2800 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, opened in 2013 and closed "temporarily" during pandemic in 2020. It never reopened. There are other Yogurtland locations in the Phoenix area (in Avondale, Chandler, and Mesa.

Did I miss any Tucson froyo spots? 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.