HYDE PARK — Zenzile “Zenzi” Powell recently celebrated five years running Zberry Frozen Yogurt & Treats.
The 44-year-old Hyde Park resident and South Shore native said she got the idea to open the shop after visiting the popular West Coast frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry a few years ago.
She said she saw how popular the self-serve restaurant had become and wanted to bring that model to Chicago. Powell had grown up on “TCBY” frozen yogurt, but had to travel to the south suburbs to buy it.
When Pinkberry appeared in 2005 she tossed around the idea of doing something similar in her community.
“I started doing homework,” she said. “We really, in the city, didn’t have any self-serve yogurt at the time. [And] Hyde Park is like the quintessential neighborhood to have a family-owned business.”
Powell said the thriving commercial district and the diverse community was enough to convince her that it was ideal for her new business at 1368 E. 53rd St. She didn’t even consider anywhere else, she said.
After almost 15 years in corporate America, working in finance, Powell ventured out to try entrepreneurship.
Helping people understand the difference between ice cream and frozen yogurt is one task she said she’s happy to do. Her staff is trained too.
“I enjoy when people come in and have the misconception that it’s going to be like Dannon yogurt, so a refrigerated cup of yogurt,” she said. “We try to educate those who are really clueless on the differences between yogurt and ice cream.”
Zberry offers both sweet and tart-like frozen yogurt. There are options for those lactose intolerant.
“When people say ‘No thank you, I can’t do ice cream,’ we really pump the fact that yogurt is good for those who are lactose intolerant,” Powell said.
It even has sorbet flavors for vegans.
The seasonal flavors rotate, so depending on the season and holiday, customers might see mint on St. Patrick’s Day or velvet cake and eggnog in the winter. During the summer, watermelon sorbet is popular. The “house favorite” is cake batter, which is always available. There are several toppings such as fresh fruit, sprinkles, cookie dough and more.
Powell prides herself on getting to know her customers. She said she makes a conscious effort to connect with everyone who comes in and it’s not uncommon to see her offer a hug to her regular customers. Everyone who walks in gets greeted with a big smile.
Michael Edwards, 28, a South Shore resident, has been a customer since 2014. He said he discovered the shop while walking by one day. His favorite flavor is the blueberry pomegranate mixed with cake batter. He said he’s a big supporter of black-owned businesses and is pleased to see Powell’s business still thriving.
“It’s vital for small businesses to be in the community because you see them all the time,” Edwards said, adding that the “easy access” makes people want to patronize the business.
Toyia Williams of South Chicago is a former classmate of Powell and said she makes the drive to 53rd Street frequently. She also helps bring her customers every chance she gets.
Business is doing great right now, Powell said, but it wasn’t always that way. When rival Red Mango moved in a few blocks away, she lost a lot of her customers. The franchise closed in November.
Now Powell is taking steps to increase her social media presence, as well speaking at schools to promote the business.
Powell said she really enjoys meeting students, especially African-Americans, because she wants them to see someone who looks like them owning a business. It makes it more tangible, she said.
“I think that it’s empowering for them to see an African-American-owned business in their community, a place that they patronize,” she said, adding that she hires locally. Each summer Powell will also hire at least one Kenwood Academy student because that’s where she attended.
Her ultimate goal is to expand Zberry and set up in hospitals and office buildings across the city.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “If you want to do it, try. You will never ever know if it can be successful if you don’t.”
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
