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Posted on Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:22 p.m.

Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop to open first Michigan location in Briarwood Mall

By Lizzy Alfs

A Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop is set to open Sept. 23 in Briarwood Mall . It will be the first Michigan shop for the Los Angeles-based company.

The shop plans to open in the center court of the mall near Starbucks.

Pinkberry is made with nonfat yogurt and nonfat milk that is rBST hormone free, according to a news release. The shop also provides fresh toppings, fruit parfaits, smoothies and fruit bowls.

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Photo from pinkberry.com

The Briarwood mall location will serve six flavors: the signature original, pomegranate, coconut, chocolate, mango and peanut butter.

“We are thrilled to bring the Pinkberry experience to my home state of Michigan and look forward to opening numerous stores across southeast Michigan,” said David Schmier, a Pinkberry developer, in a statement.

The shop will hold a soft opening on Sept. 22 where it will give out free samples and have activities for attendees.

Denise Murray, director of marketing and business development for Briarwood, said the frozen yogurt shop "definitely fits" with the atmosphere of the mall and the Ann Arbor community.

"Pinkberry is credited with reinventing frozen yogurt and is a true entrepreneurial success story," she said.

The first Pinkberry location opened in Los Angeles in 2005. The company has more than 100 locations with the majority of its stores in California.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.

Comments

Ariel

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.

I hope this place is better than Very Berry and up to part with Swirlberry. I was so sad when they left their State Street location after only being open for a few months before CVS took over. Now I have to go all the way to the North West side of town to get some froyo. This will be a lot closer, so fingers crossed that it's good!

Sarah

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.

Uh, there's Yogo Bliss on South U, near Forest. Been there for a couple of years and opened before Very Berry!

johnnya2

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.

Never had Pinkberry, BUT Swirlberry in Plum Market is AWESOME. If Plum market were not on the other side of town I might be there every day. There is a decent yogurt shop on South U as well, but not quite Swirlberry level.

Charlie Brown's Ghost

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.

Does anybody even go to the mall anymore?

EyeHeartA2

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 1:57 a.m.

I'm guessing it will be about as popular as, say....Orange Julius

Morris Thorpe

Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.

Yeah from my taste buds (and nooo! from my hips!)

bedrog

Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.

I never heard of the company until this season of "Curb your Enthusiasm" where the yogurt got the full Larry David treatment.. Can't wait to try it but hope not to experience the misadventures he had.

Gwynne O.

Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 8:33 p.m.

Hope that they do better than Very Berry did. I personally liked that yogurt place and hope the new one is as good or better.

Fritz McDonald

Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.

Being part of the healthy eating, yuppie crowd, I could not be more excited. I've had it in NYC and I loved it. Of course it's overpriced, but it's a lot better than its imitators. Too bad it's opening in the mall only and not somewhere downtown.

MAS

Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.

I had some in New York city. I found it to be overpriced yogurt and not any better or worse than what you can get at other establishments. I think Pinkberry targets the healthy eaters (though I don't think it is that healthy) and yuppie crowd.