Frozen yogurt shop to open on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor
A frozen yogurt shop named Yoggie's plans to open in the former Poshh space on East Liberty Street on April 1.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The former Poshh space on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor has a new tenant: a frozen yogurt shop named Yoggie’s.
Owner Kevin Kajy recently signed a lease to move into the space at 535 E. Liberty St., which was vacated by Poshh women’s clothing boutique two months ago.
Mike Giraud and Randy Maas of Swisher Commercial marketed the 1,350-square-foot space for an annual $39 per square foot.
Kajy plans to open Yoggie’s by April 1, after completing renovations on the space.
The pay-by-weight store will offer about 12 different flavors of frozen yogurt and 60 toppings.
“There will be all different flavors, like sugar-free and no carbs, and toppings like fresh fruits, Oreos, Snickers, peanuts, hot fudge and caramel,” Kajy said.
He added: “Everyone likes a treat and [frozen yogurt] isn’t as fattening as regular ice cream, so I think everyone will enjoy it.”
He said the frozen yogurt and toppings will probably cost 45 to 49 cents per ounce. There will be seating for about 24 people, and Kajy and his family will run the shop.
A West Bloomfield native, this is Kajy’s first yogurt business, but his family owns gas stations and supermarkets in the Metro Detroit area.
He chose downtown Ann Arbor for his latest business venture because of the high traffic count and the mix of students, business people and residents.
The location on East Liberty Street, he said, was perfect because of the proximity to State Street, the Maynard parking structure and the Michigan Theater.
Giraud and Maas of Swisher said they had interest in the space from both food and retail users.
Giraud said Kajy’s plan seemed “reasonable” and he has the experience of opening a business.
“We had people that were interested that had either, you know, no experience in running a business or were under-capitalized,” he said.
“[Kevin] came to us with a very clear idea of what they wanted to do with the space,” he added. “It’s going to be very nice, it’s going to be clean and it’s going to be bright.”
In recent years, two other frozen yogurt shops opened near the University of Michigan campus - Swirlberry on South State Street and Yogo Bliss on South University Avenue.
Swirlberry closed to make room for CVS Pharmacy and Yogo Bliss has also closed.
There is frozen yogurt available at Amer’s Mediterranean Deli on South State Street and lab cafe on East Liberty Street. The nearby Stucchi’s and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shops are also located on State Street.
But Kajy said he isn’t too concerned about the competition.
Maas added: “They were very well aware of the competition in the area. That didn’t seem to bother them at all.”
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
just a voice
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
Closes down next winter after one summer season. Why the hell am I going there rather than Amer's?
quitelistener
Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
A few years ago a bunch of hamburger places opened in town, and this year it's a bunch of frogo places. I wonder what the new food business craze will be two years from now.
ViSHa
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 4:36 a.m.
I may try it if Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm approves of it like Pinkberry, lol.
SMC
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 4:17 a.m.
Tart frozen yogurt with many different toppings? This is just what Ann Arbor needed... Until someone opened Yogo Bliss. And Swirlberry. And all the others. And Amer's got in on the action. Good luck!
Machine
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
I wish them good luck. They'll need it. Ritter's Frozen Custard didn't last long on Main Street.
bunnyabbot
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
I must have blinked regarding Ritters, didn't even know that happened.
anotherannarborite
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
seems like a lot of sq. footage for this type of business. That's awfully high rent for what they'll be selling. Wish them the best...
ks
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
I tried a similar product in SC recently at a yogurt shop called 3-spoons - it was an awesome healthy treat with lots of fresh fruit toppings available - YUM, can't wait! Good Luck to you & your new venture.
PK
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
Reasons not to: -bad location (seems good but everything fails there) -frozen yogurt is so 90s -Gogurt. -the store name will confuse true yogis
kellycm
Fri, Jan 13, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
the space they are moving into was occupied by Poshh for 10 years so not so bad of a location. just perhaps a bad business idea.
david st. crystal
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
Do people just throw darts at a map to find a home for their business? The sloppy-frozen-treat market is clogged to the gills in Ann Arbor. I give it a year.
Rob MI
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
There's also the gelateria on William that opened last year...or has that already closed?
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
@Rob MI You're right, Iorio's is still open
UM owns
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
Well this is going to fail.
Steph B
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 2:09 p.m.
Well, I support this fully, for a few reasons. One: he's local, trying to bring a new, small business to Ann Arbor. What's not to love? Two: I like frozen yogurt A LOT and have been downtown AA wanting froyo before (recently moving from Denver, I miss having a shop in every neighborhood). Not only did no froyo shops pop up on my phone, but I stopped in a restaurant (which shall remain nameless) and got theirs. It was awful, I tossed it. Three: My dad owns an ice cream shop in a college town (not in MI) and I know how much businesses like these need the community's support. What the owner might want to consider is having some hot food too, which would help him remain open year-round or bring in customers for lunch that don't want froyo. Hello hot soup and sandwiches!
leezee
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
Place your bets. I say 6 to 8 months.
jgold47
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
im in at 9 months. They have to open and make it through the first winter. Ice Cream in the winter. Yum..... See ->Coldstone
Ariel
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Also, lab, which is a few doors down, serves froyo. Granted, they only have 4 flavors at a time, but I'm not sure how Yoggie's is going survive when the students are gone and then it's winter.
Lizzy Alfs
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
@Ariel Thanks for remembering lab.
63Townie
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
Ann Arbor = World's Largest Food Court
Hmm
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
8-10 months...
bunnyabbot
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 12:45 p.m.
you have to sell a lot of anything to cover all your expenses, his rent will be close to $4400 a month alone!
rusty shackelford
Mon, Jan 9, 2012 : 11:33 a.m.
I'm only going if it's run by this guy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_pqnsKWlpc" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_pqnsKWlpc</a>