CherryBerry frozen yogurt shop prepares for Cottage Grove opening

• CherryBerry in Cottage Grove

Owner Mike Hofer and manager Bryan Langfitt inside the new Cherry Berry frozen yogurt shop in Cottage Grove. They plan to open Tuesday, Dec. 4. Bulletin photo by Scott Wente

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A new frozen yogurt shop is ready to serve Cottage Grove.

CherryBerry, which offers self-serve frozen yogurt and toppings, plans to open Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7750 Harkness Ave. It anchors one end of a Gateway North strip mall behind Kohl’s.

“We’re excited to get the spot open,” said franchise owner Mike Hofer, whose ownership group has 11 CherryBerry locations in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Hofer said Cottage Grove is an attractive market because of its size and demographics. He said his group focuses on mid-size cities with young families. CherryBerry is popular with children and teenagers, but also appeals to adults, he said.

“It’s a family friendly (business),” he said. The brightly decorated eating area features TVs so people can watch sports or children’s shows, and the shop will offer to host children’s birthday parties.

CherryBerry took over a roughly 1,400-square-foot space previously occupied by Cold Stone Creamery, which featured custom ice cream desserts until it closed last year.

Hofer said frozen yogurt shops, popular for years on the West and East coasts, are gaining popularity in the Midwest. The self-serve concept gives customers the choice of having a snack that’s healthier than ice cream or indulging.

“It’s a healthier option,” Hofer said. “You can make it as good for you as you want or as bad for you as you want, based on the toppings.”

CherryBerry offers 12 yogurt flavors and up to about 40 toppings ranging from chocolate to nuts, fresh fruit to candy. Customers pay per ounce, so larger servings with more toppings will cost more.

CherryBerry is the second frozen yogurt shop in Cottage Grove. Yo-Joe’s, an independent yogurt and coffee shop near Target, opened early this year.

CherryBerry will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 651-340-6984.

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