Jeffrey Chang wanted to start his own business so his family could be a part of it, and so he could be closer to them. The Changs live in the Issaquah Highlands, and that is where his shop opens July 26 — the first TCBY (This Can’t Be Yogurt) in Issaquah.
Located at 2520 NE Park Suite B, it’s right around the corner from Blakely Hall. Chang has a background in the food industry and quality control, but it was his children, ages 10 and 8, who helped him decide on a TCBY franchise.
He was looking for a frozen yogurt business because his kids love frozen yogurt, and they always talked about how they wished there was one in Issaquah.
The space was available, so he started looking around for an opportunity. His parents own a shopping plaza in Tacoma, and he remembered a TCBY there. That one is closed, but he took his kids to one in Woodinville and got a big thumbs up.
“Kids don’t lie,” he said smiling. He said he also appreciated TCBY’s product development.
Chad Harris, director of operations for TCBY in the western U.S. said this store is a co-branded location, carrying both yogurt and Mrs. Fields products. Both companies fall under the umbrella of Famous Brands. This is one of its new concept stores, with a full coffee bar serving espresso, lattes and coffee by Seattle roaster Dillanos, along with Mrs. Fields cookies, brownies and muffins.
Chang attended training in Salt Lake City to learn how to make the baked goods and get some barista experience.
Of the 450 domestic locations of TCBYs, which started in 1981 in Little Rock, Ark., only about a dozen have the full coffee shop. TCBY is represented in every state.
“It’s upbeat, modern, hip and cool,” Harris said.
The yogurt is self-serve in a cup or bowl, and you have several toppings to choose from. Then, it is weighed — you pay 43 cents per ounce. For an opening special, your yogurt creation is 20 percent off until Aug. 1.
The 10 flavors on tap for the summer are mountain blackberry, mango sorbet, grapefruit sorbet, Italian tart, strawberry, cheesecake, chocolate, honey vanilla creek, white chocolate mousse and golden vanilla. There is also scoop yogurt that has an ice cream taste, but is 100 percent yogurt — in eight flavors.
With hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, Chang will have 15 part-time employees to start with, plus an experienced barista. His wife, Young-In, will help out, and when the children get older, he hopes they will, too. There is outdoor seating for the summer, and seating for approximately 30 to 35 inside.
“I’m happy we’ll have healthy frozen yogurt for the community and we want to keep the price competitive,” Chang said.
Harris said three other new locations have sprung up in Washington in the past year or so, in Bellingham, Southcenter Mall and City Centre in downtown Seattle.
