CityView Magazine

Rule and "treat people how you would want to be treated, like they are the first customer in line," he explained. At TCBY, an acronym for The Coun- try's Best Yogurt, customers enter to find a bright orange, yellow and turquoise dé- cor; it also has free Wi-Fi. The decor, as well as the concept, is completely different from what customers might recall from TCBY stores in the 1980's. Owner Rakesh Sethi said that while health is one reason for the yogurt revival, economics is another. No need to employ servers; the customer fills this role. This cuts labor costs as fewer workers are hired to keep the stores running. Self-serve is low maintenance. TCBY is unique because it is "the first in the yogurt indus- try to offer Greek yogurt in its stores," said Sethi. In April, this higher protein style of frozen yogurt favorite was added to the TCBY lineup as "Greek Fro-Yo." Caccia said she is not surprised that the frozen yogurt industry is capitalizing on another health halo food, Greek yogurt. "Let the taste buds tell the truth," Sethi said. At SweetFrog, 4-year-old Caroline McIn- tosh, her mother Angie and grandmother Mary enjoyed a plethora of flavors in their bowls. When Caroline finished her orange, chocolate and raspberry-pome- granate yogurts, she pushed back from the table and exclaimed, "This is the best ice cream ever!" 2800 Raeford Road, Ste. 3 (near Harris Teeter) The Mellow Mango Fayetteville, NC 28303 910.433.0770 seats 16 or more. All three yogurt stores have the usual SweetFrog, with its cheerful pink and green decor, is located on Sycamore Dairy Road; TCBY is in the Westwood shopping center — and a Fayetteville family hopes to give both a run for their yogurt money with The Mellow Mango, in the Highland Shopping Center on Raeford Road. Siblings Ashley Van Wormer, Chet Jackson and Marla Rog- ers, along with dad Bill Jackson, are "Fayetteville born and raised," said Van Wormer. Aſter serving Fayetteville in the construction business, the Jackson family turned their atten- tion to a tastier form of customer service. Van Wormer stressed that, "we are community oriented." "Yogurt stores are the new coffee shops," Van Wormer and brother Chet agreed. The Mellow Mango's color scheme echoes the hues found in the fruity fla- vors and toppings: green, yellow, and light and dark orange. There is a sepa- rate party room for children's birthday parties as well as free Wi-Fi and flat screen televisions to watch. Like Sweet- Frog, the owners want people to come, stay and enjoy the ambiance. Inside seat- ing accommodates 100 people and outside 32 | July/August • 2012 4191 Sycamore Dairy Rd Fayetteville, NC 28303 sweetfrogyogurt.com 910.867.2207 SweetFrog age cost is dependent on the amount of frozen yogurt dis- pensed by customers, as well as the choice of toppings. The heavier-handed customers who choose weighty toppings will face a bigger bill at the register. Toppings include fresh fruits, Cap'n Crunch, M&Ms, gummy creatures of all kinds, Nerds, various nuts and flavored syrups. All three stores offer customer loyalty cards for frequent indulgers. The Mellow Mango offers discounts on certain days of the week for different clientele. For instance, customers with a church bulletin receive a discount on Sundays. The yogurt word is out; all three All stores sell yogurt by weight at 43¢ an ounce. The aver- the sweeter the better," said Tidwell. The Mellow Mango's top seller is, of course, the mellow mango sorbet. The yo- gurt tastes like sweetened, tangy bursts of the fruit. TCBY boasts white chocolate mousse, cheesecake and coconut as customer favorites. vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors of yogurt, as well as many, many others. SweetFrog employee Shirley Tidwell said that cake batter, mango and raspberry- pomegranate are their top sellers. "Chil- dren tend toward the candy toppings, and yummy treat. Even Caccia, the dietician, is not willing to be a killjoy stores are typically packed with smiling customers. Families, groups of friends and co-workers line up to serve them- selves up a frosty, self-made concoction. Every cup is different in flavors, toppings and size. Many guests are unable to finish their hat- sized bowls and leave a melting reminder of the fun 400 Westwood Shopping Center, Ste. 112 TCBY Fayetteville, NC 28314 910.229.2446 when it comes to this trend: "Frozen yogurt can fit into a person's eating plan," she said, noting that consumers just need to be nimble with the yogurt dispenser and opt for a smaller serving. "Take advantage of what is healthy about these yogurt shops," emphasizes Caccia. She warns that the serving sizes listed in yogurt stores' nutrition facts are based on a 4 ounce serving. A typical 8 ounce serving, however, contains 32 grams of sugar, not including the high calorie candy toppings. This amount of sugar exceeds the daily limit by American Heart Association guidelines. So, go light on the yogurt and top your frozen treat with heart-healthy walnuts, almonds and fruits and you'll be kind to your waistline and your wallet. CV

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