In this post, we take a look at iconic frozen yogurt shops outside of California and the East Coast, starting with the most famous old school froyo chain.
TCBY, once the world’s largest frozen yogurt chain, started with one store in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. The original location closed in 2002 but there are surely many TCBY locations that would make this list of iconic froyo shops. At one point there were 3,000 TCBY locations in 70 countries. The first franchise location was sold in 1984.
Love’s Yogurt serves sandwiches and froyo in the suburbs north of Chicago. The Wilmette location turned 30 last year and moved to a new larger location (Wilmette Commons, 122 N Skokie Blvd., Wilmette, IL 60091). The new Wilmette location is now self-serve.
The Boulder Chill (2525 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, Colorado, CO 80302) is Colorado’s oldest frozen yogurt store. It opened in 1990 and offers shakes, smoothies, malts, gourmet frozen pies, froyo and Blue Bell Ice Cream. The location is close to University of Colorado – Boulder.
Mesa Frozen Yogurt (1356 S Gilbert Rd., Ste B-12, Mesa, AZ 85204) opened in November 1983. It’s still popular with the high school kids at Mesa High. Portions are generous. Toppings are free on Monday nights. They started accepted credit cards last year.
A Touch of Yogurt (2 N Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004) turns 30 this year. They’ve been serving downtown Phoenix since 1987. Portions are generous and toppings are added in the middle and on top. They also have frozen yogurt cakes and pies, smoothies and homemade waffle cones. Flavors are posted on their website and FB page.
Honey Treat Frozen Yogurt (5000 Smithridge Dr., Ste A23, Reno, NV 89502) has been swirling froyo since 1982. They offer 12 flavors of froyo a day, including low carb, no sugar added and dairy free. They also serve banana splits, shakes and espresso drinks. Find out today’s flavors on their FB page.
Counter Culture Frozen Yogurt (203 E Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71104) opened in 1977, making it one of the oldest froyo shops in the world. They call their frozen yogurt, Humphrey Yogart. Counter Culture also serves healthy sandwiches, soups, and salads. Dine in or opt to go through their drive-thru. They also have other locations in the South. They turn 40 this year.
Ashdans Yogurt & Ice Cream (7100 Fairway Dr. #60, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418) is a family business that first opened in 1991. They offer many flavors of frozen yogurt, including sugar free and fat free options. Even their cookies are available in sugar free and fat free versions. This year they opened a second location in NYC.
Shy Giant Frozen Yogurt (Pike Place Market, 1500 Pike Place #16, Seattle, WA 98101) established in 1976, is the first froyo shop in the Pacific Northwest. They still make their own froyo flavors with seasonal fruit. You can also get Snoqualmie ice cream, smoothies, hot apple cider and hot chocolate. Decades ago they used to offer frozen tofu soft serve.
Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt (3800 Bayview St. #104, Richmond, BC V7E 6K7, Canada) has been serving Stevenson since 1989. Locals rave about their housemade waffle cones filled with froyo that’s blended to order with seasonal fruit. The waffle cone and the froyo are made to order. Be sure to stroll the pier with your froyo in hand.
Nuccelli’s (63 Richmond St., Amherstburg, ON N9V 1G1, Canada) opened in 1987. Thirty years later, they’re still known for the best froyo (yogurt plus mix-ins mixed together or Flavor Burst), ice cream, smoothies, and shakes in the area. And they have a trailer, so they can bring froyo to you.
Yogen Fruz opened its first location at the Promenade Mall (1 Promenade Circle, Thornhill, ON, L4J 4P8, Canada) in Toronto in 1986. That was the same year the Promenade Mall opened. The mall is still open and the original Yogen Fruz location is still there. The owners of Yogen Fruz purchased the mall in 2016.
Did we miss any iconic froyo shops (not including those on the East Coast or California)? Let us know at info@internationalfrozenyogurt.com
