PARKERSBURG - Step one, choose a flavor. Step two, choose from dozens of toppings. Step three, weigh and pay. Step four, enjoy your frozen treat from The Green Kiwi Frozen Yogurt.
This new frozen yogurt shop, the first of its kind in Parkersburg, has been serving up its frozen treats for just over a month and owner of the family-run establishment Helen Paxton says things have gone great so far.
"It's been very exciting," she said. "The whole family is so excited."
Article Photos
Manager Jessica Shutts switches out some of the fruit toppings available at The Green Kiwi Frozen Yogurt. (Photo by Emily Balser)
The shop is self-serve and offers 10 kinds of frozen yogurt and sorbet. There are dozens of items to use as toppings, including fruit, crushed candy bars, sprinkles and syrups.
Customers choose how much of each item they want and then their cup is weighed at the register to determine the cost. The cost is 44 cents an ounce.
Paxton said that since the shop is self-serve it gives customers more control over how much they want. She explained you can have whatever you want and however much you want of it.
She said the frozen yogurt is good for people who are on diets or have diabetes. The shop has no-sugar-added and gluten-free options.
"This generation is more aware and health conscious; therefore, they want dessert that is better," she said.
The shop switches out its flavors about twice a week and offers seasonal flavors as well. Right now, the seasonal flavor is pumpkin and will be available through Thanksgiving. Christmas flavors will include peppermint and eggnog.
"We try to keep things new as far as flavors go," said Jessica Shutts, manager of the shop and daughter of Paxton.
Shutts said the shop has stayed busy since opening and sees a crowd after school lets out at 3 p.m. She said there have been a lot of kids and teens frequenting the shop more than adults. She said she has several repeat customers.
"Some come every day," she said.
The shop offers a frequent shopper card to reward customers for coming back. If you buy 10 cups of at least 6 ounces you get 10 ounces free.
"We designed the frequent shopper card so that it keeps customers coming back and provides benefits for them," Paxton said.
Shutts says she enjoys getting to know the customers and building relationships with them. She said one of her favorite parts of managing the shop is "having the people come in and getting a good rapport with them."
Paxton has been thinking of opening a frozen yogurt shop since she visited Pinkberry, a national frozen yogurt chain, a couple of years ago in California.
"That kind of inspired me," she said. "I loved the concept and the product."
After visiting Pinkberry she also visited other shops for inspiration. Finally, she and her husband decided it would be a good avenue for them.
Paxton knew she wanted to make the shop fun and bright and "exciting to come into." The inside of the shop features lots of bright green with pops of other colors as well.
The Green Kiwi is planning a grand opening celebration for Nov. 17. Customers will be able to enter a drawing to win a giftcard to the shop. There will be 15 winners chosen.
The shop is located at 3601 Emerson Ave. and open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon- 9 p.m. Sunday.
