Mr. Orange-Power
07-30-2009, 08:33 AM
Coming soon
Some Oklahoma City-area places to satisfy a frozen yogurt craving:
→LuSh Berries, 33rd and Broadway, Edmond. A Yukon location will open next month.
→Orange Tree, E 15 Street and S Bryant Avenue in Edmond. The Web site says stores will be added in Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Stillwater, Lawton and Edmond soon.
→Pink Swirls, 7199 SW 29 in Midwest City. Plans to expand.
→Passionberri, 1204 N Interstate Drive in Norman. Second location, called Lemontree, opening soon at at SW 104 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
→Coolgreens, a frozen yogurt and salad restaurant, will open soon in Nichols Hills Plaza. Two yogurt-only shops, Coolberri, are planned for N May Avenue and W Memorial Road (mid-September) and Campus Corner in Norman (late October.)
http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/628827/gallery_photo
Oklahoma City metro area becoming frozen yogurt hot spot
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Published: July 30, 2009
An explosion of frozen yogurt businesses is coming to the Oklahoma City metro area as the coastal trend makes its way to the Heartland.
Some, such as Orange Tree, are national chains laying a stake in Oklahoma’s market. Others such as Passionberri, LuSh Berries, Pink Swirls and Coolgreens, are local mom-and-pop stores hoping to make it in a suddenly booming market.
At least three have opened in Edmond and others in Oklahoma City. All seem to be expanding with new locations at Starbucks-like speed.
And many say the healthy aspect of the treat, which has active cultures, gives the trend staying power.
"I don’t think it’s a fad. People are being more conscious of what they eat,” said Bruce Bui, owner of LuSh Berries in Edmond and a University of Central Oklahoma student.
Restaurateur Chris Lower is a partner in the new Coolgreens restaurant, which is expected to open next month in Nichols Hills Plaza; he also is planning two Coolberri frozen yogurt shops, one on Campus Corner in Norman and one at May Avenue and Memorial Road in Oklahoma City.
He said he has been driving to one of the Edmond "fro yo” places to satisfy his cravings.
"I think the stuff is so good, there’s a huge market for it,” he said.
More shops possible
Absent from the list of shops opening is FreshBerry — the "fro yo” franchise started by Tulsan David Rutkauskas, head of Beautiful Brands International. His company has been busy adding FreshBerry shops in markets such as Dallas, Southern California and Manhattan — where they will open across the street from the ultrapopular Red Mango.
FreshBerry also is aggressively expanding in the Middle East.
So why haven’t they brought their local flavor to Oklahoma City?
Rutkauskas said they are looking for the right franchisee. The company is "in discussion” with three groups of potential investors, and Rutkauskas said he’s pretty confident a deal will be signed in three months or less.
Oklahoma City, he said, has a market to support about 10 FreshBerry stores, regardless of how many independent shops open in the meantime.
"We look at our business model, and we like our chances,” he said.
Some Oklahoma City-area places to satisfy a frozen yogurt craving:
→LuSh Berries, 33rd and Broadway, Edmond. A Yukon location will open next month.
→Orange Tree, E 15 Street and S Bryant Avenue in Edmond. The Web site says stores will be added in Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Stillwater, Lawton and Edmond soon.
→Pink Swirls, 7199 SW 29 in Midwest City. Plans to expand.
→Passionberri, 1204 N Interstate Drive in Norman. Second location, called Lemontree, opening soon at at SW 104 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
→Coolgreens, a frozen yogurt and salad restaurant, will open soon in Nichols Hills Plaza. Two yogurt-only shops, Coolberri, are planned for N May Avenue and W Memorial Road (mid-September) and Campus Corner in Norman (late October.)
http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/628827/gallery_photo
Oklahoma City metro area becoming frozen yogurt hot spot
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Published: July 30, 2009
An explosion of frozen yogurt businesses is coming to the Oklahoma City metro area as the coastal trend makes its way to the Heartland.
Some, such as Orange Tree, are national chains laying a stake in Oklahoma’s market. Others such as Passionberri, LuSh Berries, Pink Swirls and Coolgreens, are local mom-and-pop stores hoping to make it in a suddenly booming market.
At least three have opened in Edmond and others in Oklahoma City. All seem to be expanding with new locations at Starbucks-like speed.
And many say the healthy aspect of the treat, which has active cultures, gives the trend staying power.
"I don’t think it’s a fad. People are being more conscious of what they eat,” said Bruce Bui, owner of LuSh Berries in Edmond and a University of Central Oklahoma student.
Restaurateur Chris Lower is a partner in the new Coolgreens restaurant, which is expected to open next month in Nichols Hills Plaza; he also is planning two Coolberri frozen yogurt shops, one on Campus Corner in Norman and one at May Avenue and Memorial Road in Oklahoma City.
He said he has been driving to one of the Edmond "fro yo” places to satisfy his cravings.
"I think the stuff is so good, there’s a huge market for it,” he said.
More shops possible
Absent from the list of shops opening is FreshBerry — the "fro yo” franchise started by Tulsan David Rutkauskas, head of Beautiful Brands International. His company has been busy adding FreshBerry shops in markets such as Dallas, Southern California and Manhattan — where they will open across the street from the ultrapopular Red Mango.
FreshBerry also is aggressively expanding in the Middle East.
So why haven’t they brought their local flavor to Oklahoma City?
Rutkauskas said they are looking for the right franchisee. The company is "in discussion” with three groups of potential investors, and Rutkauskas said he’s pretty confident a deal will be signed in three months or less.
Oklahoma City, he said, has a market to support about 10 FreshBerry stores, regardless of how many independent shops open in the meantime.
"We look at our business model, and we like our chances,” he said.