Local business profile: Yoyo's keeps it cool

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The weather may suck outside, but Yoyo's Yogurt Café is providing London with a swirl of summer.

Stepping into the café on Richmond Row, the first thing you see is brightly coloured walls, funky furniture and a long, curvy counter in the middle of the back end of the room. That counter is where the magic of Yoyo's really takes place and brings your entire frozen treat together.

The frozen yogurt served at Yoyo's is packed full of live and active cultures — 10 times the amount recommended by the National Yogurt Association, in fact. These cultures aid in digestion, help prevent and fight digestive tract infections, reduce cholesterol and can even help conquer lactose intolerance. The yogurt also contains protein, calcium, potassium and vitamin B12.

But Yoyo's isn't just for health nuts — it's creamy frozen yogurt and it doesn't even have to taste like it's good for you. There are six flavours of fro-yo to choose from — such as plain Country Vanilla, Cookies n' Cream and Wildberry — and mixing and matching is highly encouraged. There are also 50 toppings to choose from, including fresh fruit (delivered daily), cookie dough, nuts, cereal and candy treats, so every Yoyo's experience can be unique.

In fact, Yoyo's itself is pretty unique — it's the very first shop of its kind in Canada. Jan King said she got the idea for Yoyo's after seeing how popular these types of shops are in the southern United States.

"There were things about it that caught my attention — self-serve being one. There are no predetermined portions, you don't pay on a per-item basis, and you get to determine your flavours," she explained. "When people come in, they don't have to stick to one flavour of yogurt and three toppings — they can make it what they want and change it up every time."

One of the best things about Yoyo's is that your treat definitely doesn't have to break the bank; you're charged 55 cents per ounce, so you can use as many toppings as you like.

There are a few ways to style your Yoyo's treat. The first — and by far the most popular — is the "Yogurt Monday," a frozen yogurt version of a sundae. You can also create a Yo Blend, a smoothie with milk or juice added after the yogurt and toppings are paid for, or a Yo Craze, which is comparable to a Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

The London location is Yoyo's flagship store. King said she is currently looking at a location in Toronto at Spadina and Bloor. "Right at U of T. We're excited about that," she said.

She is also looking at building a Yoyo's location right near our campus. If the sale goes through, King said the shop should be open for September 2011.

Above all, King said she just wants Yoyo's to be a fun place to chill, hang out and have a delicious — and healthy — snack. So come on, London, have it Yo way!

For more information on Yoyo's, visit yoyosyogurtcafe.com or head to the store at 515 Richmond St.