The frozen-yogurt franchise Yogurtini plans to open a new location in downtown Phoenix’s CityScape sometime in early May.
Although the grand-opening date is currently undetermined, Steven Kinworthy, the Yogurtini franchise owner for the CityScape store, has exciting ideas for possible developments at the new location.
“We know this store is going to be unique in several different ways, and we definitely want to appeal to ASU students,” Kinworthy said. “We are really excited about the new store. It’s going to be challenging but a lot of fun.”
Yogurtini will be partnering with St. Jude Children’s Hospital to collect donations during its grand opening. The event will also include free frozen yogurt and the Yogurtini mascot, “Yogurtman,” who will be there posing for pictures and signing autographs.
Yogurtini was created in 2008 by two Tempe sisters, Natasha and Chelsea Nelson. The franchise was nominated “Best Frozen Yogurt” by the Phoenix New Times and was voted “Favorite Place to Chill” in 944 Magazine.
The new location will cater to the students at ASU’s Downtown campus and businesspeople working in downtown Phoenix.
Monthly raffles, games and a student happy hour are just few out of the many ideas Kinworthy has for the new location.
“We are welcome to any ideas students may have because we want the store to be really creative,” Kinworthy said. “We want to create an atmosphere that students will enjoy.”
According to Andrea Depew, director of marketing & PR for Yogurtini, the close proximity of the store to ASU’s Downtown campus will provide students with the opportunity to hang out, work or study there.
“It’s relaxing, carefree, got an upbeat vibe and current music,” Depew said. “It’ll be a great place to hang out, and we definitely want to hire ASU students.”
Yogurtini plans to have late-night hours for students to grab a quick bite or study with the free WiFi that will be available, Depew said.
Shulamit Appel, a senior majoring in print journalism, has mixed feelings about the opening of the new Yogurtini.
“I’m not a Yogurtini fan. I’ve tried it and I don’t really like it,” she said. “I think they’ll get a lot of business though — not just from students, but from businesses and people going on lunch breaks. It’ll probably be pretty beneficial for students if they take M&G or Sun Dollars, too.”
With construction and marketing ideas in progress, Kinworthy and his wife, Sue, are excited for the grand opening.
“My wife and I love to make people happy,” Kinsworthy said. “We just want to create a healthy, fun environment.”
Contact the reporter at rlcohen2@asu.edu
