As the economy worsens, residents of San Luis Obispo can still enjoy a sweet, yet economical treat: frozen yogurt.
With three downtown locations, another on Foothill Boulevard and a new one opening in the Laguna Village Shopping Center, frozen yogurt shops appear to be thriving.
Frozen yogurt is a family friendly attraction. Various flavors of yogurt and a wide variety of toppings are available. It doesn’t hurt that it is one of the cheapest treats around.
Country Culture Yogurt began the city’s frozen yogurt frenzy 28 years ago when it set up shop. Owner Norma Haynes said she wanted to open a yogurt store during the 1980s because it was the no. 1 entrepreneurship business in California.
“It was a very hot trend back then,” she said.
Since then, Bali’s, Yogurt Creations and soon to open Snofari have created their own versions catering to San Luis Obispo’s sweet tooth.
“I’ve seen six yogurt shops open and close downtown over the years,” Haynes said.”We have seen a drop (in business) over the past yearAll of the other business owners in the mall have noticed the same thing. The economy is down and the city has noticed a drop because we aren’t seeing as many tourists. Although we are seeing a few more Europeans than normal because the dollar is so low.”
Haynes isn’t worried about her shop because it has a rich history over the years at its creek side Higuera Street location.
Country Culture Yogurt offers the only full service frozen yogurt shop in town, along with fresh waffle cones made daily and homemade yogurt.
Bali’s has also seen a decrease in customers, said Bali’s employee and Cuesta College fashion freshmen Nick Threets. “Bali’s has seen a big hit. I think because it (the economic decline) hit students the hardest,” Threets said.
However, the economy hasn’t stopped bioresource and agricultural engineering freshman Kyle Jackson from going to Bali’s. Jackson said the price of yogurt does not affect his decision.
“I love Bali’s, I’ve been going there for years,” he said.
Threets said Bali’s is busiest on Thursday nights during Farmer’s Market and bike night, as well as weekend nights.
Yogurt Creations, which opened last spring, hasn’t seen a decline in business according to employee Eric Hoversten. He attributes this to the quality of the shop.
“We have better yogurt and better toppings,” he said.
Sarah Kounanis, a Yogurt Creations patron, said she visits the shop four or five times a week. The self proclaimed “yogurt-aholic” said frozen yogurt is so popular because “it’s healthier than ice cream; it’s cheap and sweet and flavorful.”
Snofari owner Terry Williams said she is not worried about opening a new frozen yogurt shop in San Luis Obispo with the current economic situation.
“I feel that everybody wants to eat and it’s not expensive because it is all done by weight so you can get pretty much what you can afford. Everybody likes a treat,” she said.
Snofari’s location makes it unique. “It gives everyone on this side of town the opportunity to go get a yogurt without having to go downtown,” she said.
The shop is expected to open in late January in the Laguna Village Shopping Center.