LAKEVIEW — The husband-and-wife team behind Lakeview's newest frozen yogurt shop hope to set themselves apart with organic and vegan treats, a hot oatmeal bar and a playroom for kids.
"There's really not any healthy dessert options in the city — that we're aware of — that are organic," said Liz Poplin, who launched Froyo Chicago earlier this year with husband Tim Poplin.
The couple has run a Downtown location at 233 N. Michigan Ave. since July. They plan to open a second store at 3746 N. Southport Ave. by late October.
Froyo Chicago offers everything you'd expect at a self-serve froyo spot — there's frozen yogurt, sorbets and a topping bar with sprinkles, cookie dough and fresh fruit.
But it also highlights four organic flavors (vanilla, chocolate, tart, coconut) and three vegan options, including sorbet and coconut frozen yogurt.
"Eventually we would love to be all organic," Liz Poplin said, "but the suppliers that we have right now don't offer enough flavors. And we know that some people just demand certain flavors that don't come in organic.
"There's really only two suppliers right now in the country that offer organic frozen yogurt," she continued, "and they're both on the West Coast. Getting it from them to us was a challenge."
The Poplins said they chose the Southport Corridor for their second location because there's a large number of families, kids and commuters. The shop is less than a block from Blaine Elementary and close to several transit lines.
The Lakeview store will have a kids' playroom stocked with Chicago-centric games, books, toys and activities.
"We wanted to make someplace where moms can hang out with other moms," Liz Poplin said. "We're hoping they'll want to grab a coffee or oatmeal and bring their kids, put them in the playroom and chat with one another."
Froyo Chicago will sell Metropolis coffee and Octavia Tea.
It will also cater to the breakfast crowd with organic steel-cut oatmeal and organic quinoa, which are slow-cooked overnight. Guests can make their own breakfast bowls with toppings like agave, brown sugar and goji berries.
Smoothies with protein and spirulina boosts will also be available.
Tim Poplin said he's hoping the shop will cater to the community and be a boon for the Southport Corridor.
"There've been so many changes on the street with big national retailers coming in," he said. "It seems like the south side of the street is turning into more of a retail spot, but we thought the North Side was more food-based. People can come in for dessert after dinner or a show."
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