FroYo is the new 'wrap'

[teko.livejournal.com]

So besides the formerly-reported Orange Leaf building its new store in the former Oom Yung Doe headquarters next to Starbucks, the city has given the go-ahead for a new Pinkberry at 263 Elm, next to Dragon Garden -- literally across the street from Orange Leaf, and a block from iYo Cafe.

The planning staff mentions that Alderman Gewirtz "noted the number of yogurt parlors recently established in Davis Square," but that didn't seem to affect their decision.

You can see the report here and how the store will look here.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Are you sure this was actually approved yet? I heard that it was deferred until the November 7 ZBA meeting, as there was very little time to hear it after the Armory took over four hours.

(see also my earlier post about Pinkberry)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I demand a froyorrito.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

it is inevitable.

Competitive advantage

[squirrelitude]

Pretty soon one of the froyo places will decide that that is how it will distinguish itself from the others. The end will follow shortly thereafter.

- OR -

Hey, that sounds like a good business plan. You should open a shop in Davis Square!

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

"Instead of another froyo place, we should do something totally different. Like burritos!"

"What about all kinds of wraps?"

"Even better! And we can serve coffee!"

"Of course"

aaaand that's how the end times begin.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Evidence suggests that neither Davis nor Harvard have reached their limits for coffeehouse seats...

[ratheripped.livejournal.com]

Much rather have a Berry Line if they were going to put in yet-another-froyo-place...at least that's a local chain. There's got to be a froyo bubble burst sometime soon...the froyo shops may very well out number Dunks per square mile at the rate this is going.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

No, this time it's different. The cupcake/real-estate/tech-stock bubbles may have burst, but I think the frozen yogurt fundamentals are sound.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_ming/]

iYo forever! I love their coffee and serve-your-own-froyo approach, plus it's a beautiful and relaxing space to hang out or work party with friends. <3

[squirrelitude]

Do you know if any of the other places have a DIY model? It was a real novelty for me, so iYo has earned a special place in my... sweet tooth.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

I know there is one out in Alston called Mixx that is DYI :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_ming/]

Some Red Mango locations are that way... I know the one at the Hingham Shipyard is serve yourself, but I'm not sure of any spots in the metro area, alas.

[madrigal.livejournal.com]

Berry Freeze in Coolidge Corner is another DIY

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Totally agree! The kids also love it, especially the DIY aspect and the huge variety of toppings.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Also, the city can't question the viability of a business based on there being others present like it (as Ron pointed out to me when this was first discussed) They can only question proper usage, permitting, and licensing.

[teko.livejournal.com]

They should. But I see your point.

I guess if Pinkberry and/or Orange Leaf want to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot, it's their choice.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Well, we can just let them all compete to death and enjoy the frozen spoils of war. (Except iYo, they can be Switzerland)

[teko.livejournal.com]

That's honestly my big concern. If you look at the plans for the two new places, Pinkberry's doing their typical thing but Orange Leaf is a carbon copy of iYo. Same wall of flavors, same topping bar. I'm all for competition, but I don't want iYo to go away.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

The obvious answer here is: If you don't want a company to go away, patronize it more and encourage others to do the same!

Personally, I'd really dig another falafel place in Davis that's more traditional or better yet, a Vietnamese restaurant. Doowee and Rice is tasty, but not what I want when I'm craving a bowl of pho.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

It would take a mighty good falafel place for me to choose it over Cafe Barada! But I'm with you on a pho joint, all the way.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

I'd love a good falafel place. I'm not a fan of Amsterdam.

[ron_newman]

iYo has an established customer base, always looks busy, and has a better location. I think they'll survive.

[nathanjw]

iYo didn't exactly invent self-serve wall-of-frozen-yogurt and toppings; it's been a nationwide trend for a few years. Heck, they likely as anything copied Orange Leaf in the first place, since Orange Leaf has been in business for four years and now has a couple of hundred locations.

[teko.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is the case, indeed. I guess I'd just rather see an independent store run by a couple of really nice local guys succeed rather than yet another chain store.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I don't trust the local governments to be making business decisions in the public interest. They seem prone to capture by vested interests.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

This.

[alpinepie.livejournal.com]

I am all for new food establishments, especially by small independents such as myself. The only objection that I share with other operators is the change of use of the properties in Davis Square from office and retail to food establishments. In the ZBA rules, it says something about there being a need to change. I really don't think there is a community need to change from an office space to a fifth or sixth establishment that serves frozen yogurt. I would much rather see a focus on getting more retail/craft/clothing/art/appliance/shoes/sporting/etc... type stores here in the square. There are plenty of restaurant/food establishments already. If Pink berry or any other food establishment wants to open I would suggest letting evolution take its course, either wait for another place to close or make an offer for an existing place to leave. Of course I would much prefer any incoming business to not be a chain as well. I just don't think we need them in the mix.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

The thing is that if business wants to come in, aside from requirements, permits and licensing requirements, the city can't discriminate. If we want to see more retail/craft/clothing/art/appliance/shoes/sporting/etc in the square, we need to find people who want to open these types of shops and get them interested in Davis. Also, just because these spaces are changing to restaurant permits doesn't mean they have to stay that way. Special permits are valid for 2 years or a stated time frame given by the ZBA during the hearing (of less than 2 years). I am not sure how much they adhere to that with an existing business in place, but as soon as someone new wants to come in, a great deal of the time they need to re-apply if there is a special permit in place. (I'm dealing with this for my own business (not a fro-yo place, nor burrito place so I've been reading a LOT of this stuff)

[ron_newman]

I thought the time limit just applied to how long the applicant has to actually build what the special permit authorizes. If you get a special permit, then don't actually use it, it will lapse unless the zoning board extends it. This was about to happen to IKEA (after one extension) when they finally announced they were pulling out.